Partnerships, IPO’s & Hires

eCommerce
Written By Rick Watson

So much news in the middle of May 2021.

  • Google partnering with Shopify. Not exclusive but this makes total sense. If people start their search on Amazon, Google and Shopify lose. Simple as that. Google needs higher quality information than what could be sent by a third party connecting a Shopify store and Amazon. It’s about the data. Better data equals higher UX ceiling.

  • 1stDibs announcing its IPO. Super interesting differentiated marketplace niche. You can expect a deeper analysis soon.

  • TheRealReal looking to hire someone to help them create a private label line. In one sense this is a huge distraction - doesn’t their main model have enough issues?. In another sense they likely sense their ability to become a lifestyle brand and struggle mightily with inventory consistency - the bugbear of any used / marketplace.

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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