Is Shopify’s Shop App a Trojan Horse?

SaaS
Written By Rick Watson

Shopify launched its first branded consumer shopping experience with the renaming of its Arrive app to Shop. I consider this a Trojan horse marketplace entry so it will be super interesting to watch.

With this, Shopify is putting on a masterclass in how to start a two sided market flywheel.

Shopify doesn’t have a supply problem they had a demand problem. But rather than tackle demand head on instead they built something useful - solving with consumer WISMO (Where is My Order) problem with Arrive nearly for all Shopify merchants.

Many people forget to add value to both sides.

Second, they extended that consumer fly-wheel into shopping. Any stores you are following you can easily browse and buy. Third, they built in the knowledge of their POS to help you support local businesses. This is the trickiest and least obvious interface but you are able to shop near you. Most people search around using Google or Maps to buy something.

I have never heard of a POS company building a local shopping interface like this.

  • one of the fastest checkouts I’ve ever seen. One tap into Apple Pay or any popular payment service.

  • helpful tips to consumers to let people know how fast they ship - almost like a marketplace right? :)

Rick Watson

Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting after spending 20+ years as a technology entrepreneur and operator exclusively in the eCommerce industry with companies like ChannelAdvisor, BarnesandNoble.com, Merchantry, and Pitney Bowes.

Watson’s work today is centered on supporting investors and management teams incubating and growing direct-to-consumer businesses. Most recently, in partnership with WHP Global, Rick was a critical resource in architecting the WHP+ platform, a new turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform that powers AnneKlein.com and JosephAbboud.com.

Watson also hosts a weekly podcast, Watson Weekly, where he shares an unbiased, unfiltered expert take on the retail sector’s biggest players.

In the past year alone, Rick has spoken at many in-person and virtual events as well as podcasts on topics ranging from retail/ecom to supply chain/logistics and even digital grocery including CommerceNext IRL, ASCM Connect, and Retail Innovation Conference.

https://www.rmwcommerce.com/
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A Thought Exercise On The Shopify Shop App