The Watson Weekend

Sue Azari, a distinguished e-commerce executive at AppsFlyer, exposes the shocking truths about mobile app marketing that most retailers are getting completely wrong. From why your "best customers" might not be what you think to the real reason Teemu is terrifying luxury brands, this conversation reveals the mobile strategies that actually drive revenue. 🔥 Mind-Blowing Revelations: 75% of mobile...

Michael McCluskey, VP of Marketplace at Lowe's, drops bombshells about how they launched their marketplace faster than anyone expected and why traditional retail is dead. From competing with Amazon's drone delivery to the shocking truth about why most marketplace projects fail, this conversation reveals the inside strategy of America's second-largest home improvement retailer. Key Revelations: How...

David Baker, CDO at Beekman 1802, spills the secrets behind TikTok Shop's explosive growth from political campaign tactics to beauty brand domination. From Obama's digital team strategies to becoming the #5 retailer in America, this deep dive reveals what actually works. 🔥 Key Takeaways: Why TikTok Shop beats Instagram/Facebook 10:1 in social commerce The "visual hook" formula that drives viral p...

In this eye-opening full interview, Sid Jatia, GM's Global VP of Digital Commerce & Service, drops truth bombs about what really works in large enterprise organizations. From Microsoft to Under Armour to General Motors, Sid shares battle-tested strategies that challenge conventional leadership wisdom. 🔥 Key Takeaways: Why execution beats vision for team motivation The real reason cross-functi...

Nick Kaplan steps in as guest co-host with Rick Watson —and yes, we doubled up on Nicks because mediocrity requires one, but excellence needs two. Nick and Rick, who are in the same studio, talk about Peleton’s P2P play, Temu’s struggle, and they recap The Lead Summit. They are then joined by Shopify Agency operators to talk about their trip to Toronto for Editions. 🧠 The Shopify Agency Lineup: M...

INDUSTRY DEBATE : VTEX co-founder Mariano Gomide de Faria sits down with Mach Alliance President Casper Rasmussen after his viral LinkedIn post that sparked major discussion in the e-commerce world! The Discussion: Mariano's post about the Mach Alliance's evolution generated hundreds of comments and industry-wide conversation about the future of enterprise architecture. Key Highlights: The evoluti...

In this no-holds-barred conversation, Rick Watson sits down with Jo Baker, CEO of ShipperHQ, for a brutally honest discussion about the current state of e-commerce platforms. From Adobe's struggles with Magento to Shopify's enterprise ambitions and BigCommerce's missed opportunities, nothing is off limits. 🔥 KEY TOPICS COVERED: Why Adobe needs to "stop apologizing for Magento" The real reason Big...

It is a reunion show. Hosts Jessica Lesesky and Nick Kaplan run the Watson Weekend while Rick Watson is away. A longer headline hangover, as there is a lot to talk about: Klarna is walking back its initial bullishness on artificial intelligence. There are certain situations where humans need to defuse a situation (think CRM and a customer having a meltdown) - an AI agent or bot cannot resolve a si...

Join hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Leseski as they dive deep into the massive potential of B2B e-commerce with Jack Freeman, Partner at PeakSpan Capital. With B2B commerce now reaching $36 trillion in sales, this episode explores why this market is finally gaining momentum after years of slow adoption. Jack shares valuable insights on the challenges and opportunities in the B2B space, including th...

In this episode of The Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Jess Lesetsky welcome Hawk Media founder & CEO Erik Huberman to discuss digital marketing strategies during economic uncertainty. Erik shares why cutting your marketing budget during challenging times is almost always a mistake, why a good product remains marketing's foundation, and how brands can become effective media companies. Pl...

In this episode of The Watson Weekend, Rick and Jess welcome Donna Felix, VP of Product & E-commerce at Vivrelle, the innovative luxury fashion membership club that's changing how we access designer handbags and accessories. Donna shares Vivrelle's origin story (written on a napkin during the founders' honeymoon!), explains how they track thousands of luxury items, and reveals their exciting n...

In this episode of The Watson Weekend, Rick Watson and Nick Kaplan dive into the evolving world of marketplaces with special guest Jordan Sielaff, co-founder and CEO of Geared. They discuss Amazon's potential TikTok acquisition, the Shein IPO's challenges amid tariff concerns, and the wave of eye-opening Chinese manufacturing content flooding TikTok.  Jordan shares his journey from marketplac...

In this episode of The Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky navigate the turbulent economic landscape with special guest Sid Jatia, VP of Digital Commerce and Service at General Motors. They discuss the week's top stories including suspended IPOs, Nintendo Switch pre-order rollercoaster, the Prada-Versace acquisition, and the impact of tariffs on retail forecasts and customs opera...

In this episode of The Watson Weekend sponsored by Elastic Path, hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky explore the latest developments in e-commerce and retail with special guest John Shea from Momentum Commerce. They discuss Target's employee bonus cuts, the Kate Spade x Target collaboration, PetSmart's ship-from-store strategy, NRF's optimistic sales forecasts, and Amazon's potential bid for Tik...

In this episode of Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Nick Kaplan dive into the latest updates in retail technology and e-commerce. They share their experiences from the ShopTalk conference, discuss the latest in tariffs and inventory management, and explore the impact of generative AI and digital agents in the industry. The duo also highlights the best and worst aspects of ShopTalk, including...

In this episode of Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky dive into the latest e-commerce and retail news. They discuss Skims' innovative strategies, Forever 21's looming bankruptcy, and the storied history of the fashion retailer. Special guest Stephen Cope, CIO of ASTRAK, shares his insights on digital transformation in the B2B sector, particularly in the construction equipment pa...

In this episode of Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesecky dive into the latest in retail, tech, and e-commerce news. Key topics include China's pushback against Walmart's supplier policies, Shein's new merchandising strategies, and Kohl's partnership with Sephora. Special guest Matt Steinbrecher joins to delve into the intricacies of cross-border commerce, from payment regulations t...

In this episode of Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky dive into the latest in e-commerce and retail news. They discuss Shopify's new AI feature and review Google's AI-driven changes in performance marketing with insights from expert guest Mike Ryan. Mike shares his take on Google PMAX, differences in global strategies, and what makes the Miami Heat's direct-to-consumer approach...

In this episode of Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky dive into the latest trends in e-commerce, retail, and technology. They discuss the logistics industry's complexities and innovations with special guest Ben Emmrich, CEO of Tusk Logistics. Topics include the market opportunities for Klaviyo, Temu's expansion into Canada, the resurgence of mall culture among Gen Z, and the imp...

In this episode of Watson Weekend, hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesecky discuss the latest in technology, e-commerce, and retail news, including Skims' partnership with Nike and Amazon's new cost-saving strategies. Special guest Josh Carter joins to share insights into social commerce, influencer marketing, and the importance of being brave in brand marketing. The show features a fun segment of '...

Join hosts Rick Watson and Jess Lesesky on this edition of Watson Weekend LIVE as they sit down with special guest Scott Lux—a seasoned leader in e-commerce and digital strategy. In this insightful discussion, Scott reveals why the era of explosive revenue growth is shifting towards an "Age of Efficiency" in 2025. In This Episode: How financial pressures are forcing brands to rethink growth strate...

Ecommerce has come a long way, but are we still innovating—or just optimizing? In this episode of Watson Weekend, we sit down with Dimple Rao, a seasoned product management leader with over 15 years of experience in retail and digital commerce. We dive into: ✅ How ecommerce innovation has evolved (and where it's stalled) ✅ The balance between efficiency and true disruption ✅ What the future of...

This week on Watson Weekend, we’re breaking down the biggest shifts in e-commerce and AI in 2025 with Bryan House, President of Elastic Path! 🔍 What’s on the agenda? 📰 Headline Hangover: The latest trends in store closures, AI’s impact on retail, and consumer trust. 🤖 Shopping Habits in 2025: Is browsing dead? Has AI taken over the retail experience? 💡 Composable Commerce Unlocked: Bryan House...

We’re bringing you the exclusive recording of our live Watson Weekend event at NRF 2025, featuring Rick, Jess, Nick, and our special guest Michael Jones, CEO of Candle Science. Get ready for insights, bold predictions, and even a dance party. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

This week on Watson Weekend, Rick and Jess cover the biggest retail and tech news, including the potential TikTok ban, Target's plan to shorten GTM times, Walmart's metaverse move, and the end of "try before you buy." Plus, a recap of NRF 2025 and insights on the 5 Forces Affecting Commerce. Nick Kaplan joins us for Kaplan's Corner to discuss the Obituary and Resurrection strategy. Tune in for you...