How Shopify Is Disrupting The Merch Sector?

eCommerce
Written By Rick Watson

Netflix has been in the news for their new shop.

In this space about 5 years ago DeliveryAgent declared bankruptcy and left a big crater in the licensed goods agency space (think GSI Commerce for networks/studios). It used to partner with many different TV networks, etc., to run its eCommerce businesses.

These days, Shopify (and other cloud platforms) are simple enough that many tech-forward companies are running their merchandising in-house. Which is not a normal workflow movie/TV studio. What are the keys to making this work?

  • Independence. The eCommerce team executing marketing and operations needs the ability to run separately from groups within Netflix that are responsible for the content.

  • Integration. Although the eCommerce team needs freedom, if they are blindsided by the needs of the studio, the whole thing falls apart. Planning needs to be integrated from the beginning. When a new episode drops, the hot merch needs to be on the homepage. Period.

  • Supply chain. Netflix needs to take a lesson from Shein. Trends live to site in 5 days. Possible? Definitely.

    (One improvement: I didn't like about the Netflix vs HBO was Netflix didn't tell me when my package would arrive at checkout. Shop HBO did, and was less expensive.)

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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