Future Commerce

“Email’s stability in a changing digital world makes it one of the few reliable channels left for brands, even after ten years.” Seasoned eCommerce and email marketing expert Greg Zakowicz joins Brian and Phillip to unpack the holiday inbox squeeze.  The Tried and True, Yet Hackable, Email Campaign Key takeaways: [00:01:41] “Email’s stability in a changing digital world makes it one of the few rel...

Phoebe Yu loves jumping down rabbit holes with the audience of her curiosity-driven channel on YouTube that focuses on research, human psychology, and culture, specifically within the tech sector. But if something interesting finds its way into the comment section, she’ll deep dive into that too. Listen now to Phoebe Yu’s conversation with Phillip and Brian! Looking Back to Look Forward Key Takeaw...

Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 20% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with Alani™ from BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISIONS) Ad-free episodes and bonus content! Hosted by S...

Spooky Commerce finishes with an epic finale as we explore the mysterious history of Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market. Phillip, Brian, and Sarah share tales of ghost sightings, haunted (coffee) grounds, and the rich lore behind one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the U.S. PLUS: Phillip and Brian debrief a tragedy involving AI-to-human relationships and discuss the challenges pare...

This week we unpack multisensory commerce, the economical ebb and flow of re-commerce, and reflect on Phillip’s keynote at the Motion Creative Strategy Summit. PLUS: Spooky Commerce is back. Phillip, Brian, and Sarah journey to a haunted 1980’s Bay Area Toys R Us. The Duality of Recommerce Key takeaways: Tactile interactions produce profound experiences – something digital media cannot replicate....

From dead-and-undead-again crypto cycles to eBay’s paranormal side, we explore the range of the paranormal in this week’s installment of Spooky Commerce. Listen now! Crypt-O-Currency, Panic Buying and Paranormal Ducks Key takeaways: eCommerce giants like Pinduoduo (Temu’s parent company) are contributing to deflation in China by flooding the market with cheap goods. Disaster alerts compete with th...

Is the world of copyright infringement getting weirder? We catch up on the latest (and tastiest) brand battles. PLUS: October-exclusive segment, Spooky Commerce, where we take a look at an interesting urban legend that will make you say, “Holy matrimony!”  Seattle Suits and Lawsuits More from Shoptoberfest: Brian, Mike Wattier and Jeremy Noonan dive deeper into our latest report, “The Honest Truth...

If buying software were a cage match, the RFP would be a royal rumble. Dive into the weird world of software buying and the flawed nature of RFPs with Philipp Krueger and Jason Nyhus, as we explore insights from the latest Future Commerce report, "The Honest Truth." Lies, Damned Lies, and RFPs Key takeaways: “The Honest Truth” report reveals that 81% of merchants expect software implementation to...

Phillip and Brian debrief this year’s All-In Summit, which touched on coming societal changes due to AI. From the impact of automation to the power of data, they talk through these technological advancements that are reshaping the way we shop, work, and interact. PLUS: An exciting sneak peek of the upcoming VISIONS Summit in LA! Stealthily Building an Institution Key takeaways: VISIONS Summit LA i...

Recorded live from BigSummit, Phillip and Brian join John Affourtit (Senior Director of Strategic Sales at Attentive) and Melissa Dixon (Senior Director of Content Marketing at BigCommerce) to share expert insights on the future of consumer behavior. Dig into the newest Future Commerce & BigCommerce report: New Modes, Redefining Personalization In the Age of AI and learn how brands can stay ahead...

“Get it in their hands” is Kristin Flor Perret’s (Sur La Table, Saucy) secret sauce to blending cutting-edge tech with genuine human connection. Learn how Sur La Table is futureproofing their business and blending education and connection with in-store and digital commerce on Amazon and beyond. Listen now! Dishing on Commerce and Connection Key takeaways: As automation increases, businesses will n...

What an incredible eight years it has been here at Future Commerce, but wait until you see what’s coming next. There is a lot ahead that you won’t want to miss. In this episode Phillip gives you a little taste of what is to come and how you can make sure you stay in the know (because you’re really going to want to stay in the know).  Buckle Up Key takeaways: [00:03:52]: "We have a quiz on archetyp...

feat. Justin Breton, Head of Brand Marketing and Innovation at Walmart How does an early adopter become a leader and consistently one of the most adaptive brands in the market? Listen now as Justin Breton shares the story of innovation Walmart is telling and how they are creating new worlds within the commerce landscape.  The New Familiar of the Future Key takeaways: [00:12:26]: "We are a part of...

Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 20% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with Alani™ from BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISIONS) Ad-free episodes and bonus content! Hosted by S...

In this episode we speak with special guest Lee Glandorf, author of The Sweat Lookbook substack about the intersection of sports, fashion, and culture. Lee, a long-time friend of the podcast and former Director of Marketing at Tracksmith, shares her unique insights on how running culture, women's sports, and performance fashion are evolving. Listen now! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. Se...

feat. Alexa Lombardo and Candace Stewart Alexa Lombardo and Candace Stewart co-host this week breaking down the intersection of female athletes, beauty, and commerce. Learn how female athletes are revolutionizing both the sports and beauty industries through authentic storytelling and strategic brand partnerships. Listen now! Tunnel Fits: The Court is the new Catwalk Key takeaways: Female athletes...

Feat. Aaron Sheehan In this rewind episode, we discuss a key topic: the analyst ecosystem and the influence of reports like Gartner's Magic Quadrant on the eCommerce industry. We explore how these reports are created, who they benefit, and their role in shaping market perceptions. Aaron sheds light on the complexities behind the rankings, the criteria used, and the nuances often overlooked in the...

In this episode of Future Commerce Rewind, our summer series where we compare today's news against episodes from the archives, we are revisiting Episode 341 with friend of the pod and cultural theorist, Matt Klein, to discuss the findings from his annual META Trends Report. Today, we're not just talking about trends and data. We're talking about a deep human need that's driving patterns and how bu...

Parasocial Relationships Will Change Retail Forever Welcome to Future Commerce Rewind, our summer series where we compare today's news against episodes from the archives. Today, we revisit our historic 300th episode from 2023, where we explored the future of commerce shopping experiences through parasocial relationships. We also cover how the chat interface, a UI prediction we made just a year ago...

We’re back exploring the intersection of technology, payments, and consumer behavior with guests Michaela Weber from BigCommerce and Sanjeev Gill from Stripe Live from VISIONS Summit: NYC. The conversation covers how modern ecommerce platforms and payment solutions are transforming the retail landscape. Join us to discuss the shift from traditional retail hours to 24/7 online shopping, the importa...

These show notes were written at a time before LLMs were available to the public, if that's any indication of  In this episode from 2017, we covered: WILL WALMART BE COOL AGAIN? Lord and Taylor started selling on walmart.com with their own special homepage. Also, remember how Walmart acquired Bonobos and Modcloth? The world has changed, people. THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: Walmart's upmarket aspirations cl...

In this episode, we explore the dynamic interplay between traditional and new media with insights from retail analyst Heetha Herzog and culture writer Kate Lindsay live from VISIONS Summit: NYC. Moderated by Phillip, this conversation covers how media consumption shapes our reality, the influence of monocultural events, and the generational shifts in media platforms. We examine the evolving roles...

Live from the Retail Innovation Conference and Expo, feat. Dan Murphy, SVP of Marketing at Liquid Death In this episode, Phillip has a conversation with Dan Murphy, SVP of Marketing at Liquid Death, at the Retail Innovation Conference and Expo back in June about how the Liquid Death team does more with less by infusing comedy and incredible creative and employing nontraditional marketers and nontr...

Recorded live at VISIONS Summit: NYC 2024, join Alicia Esposito for her sitdown with Seb Reetz, Bloomreach’s Solutions Consulting Lead of the Americas. They dive into the fascinating intersection of AI and art, exploring how AI is transforming both the creation and consumption of art discussing the ethical considerations, creative opportunities, and practical applications of AI in the artistic pro...

Recorded live at VISIONS Summit: NYC 2024, join Paul Canetti as he sits down with Reggie James and Ruby Thelot. We explore the concept of being "too online" and whether the dichotomy between digital and physical worlds is still relevant. Ruby and Reggie share their thoughts on the cultural shifts driven by our online presence, the importance of physical spaces, and the impact of digital status-see...