June 13th, 2022: Special Edition! Rick speaks with Hamaad Akmal
It’s June 13th, 2022, and this is the Watson Weekly - Your essential eCommerce Digest.
Rick is out of town this week, but today on our show we have a new special edition interview with Hamaad Akmal, the Head of Operations and Global Logistics for trusted sneaker marketplace GOAT. Hamaad spends his days chasing fraudsters across the planet and creating a seamless supply chain experience for buyers and sellers. Today’s episode covers a few interesting topics in the world of cross-border eCommerce.
How to stop fraud on marketplaces
Trends in global eCommerce
Tips to improve your cross-border eCommerce business as a brand owner
The importance of diversifying your shipping carriers.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
June 6th, 2022: Special Edition! Rick speaks to John Lawson, CEO of ColderICE Media
Rick is out of town this week but today on our show, we have a new special edition interview with a dear friend, John Lawson.
John ColderICE Lawson is one of the OGs of eCommerce, and a small business coach for growing eCommerce sellers.
Today’s episode is a wide-ranging interview on a number of interesting topics including:
- How to compete against Amazon as a retailer or brand?
- The early days of eBay and what they got wrong
- The history of eCommerce
- Social selling
- The importance of understanding your audience in eCommerce
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
May 30th, 2022: Stripe’s new app marketplace, the state of the consumer, Ulta’s announcement, and the secondhand US market.
It’s May 30th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Stripe launches new app marketplace
What do recent earnings calls say about the state of the consumer?
Ulta announces its own retail media network in beauty
Secondhand US market to reach $82 Billion by 2026
And the Investor Minute which contains 3 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
May 23rd, 2022: Walmart’s profitability miss, REI’s circular commerce efforts, Klarna’s virtual shopping feature, and Target’s Q1 earnings
It’s May 23rd, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Walmart’s quarterly profitability miss confirms economic slowdown
REI’s circular commerce efforts show great progress
Klarna’s new virtual shopping feature makes me worry for Buy-Now-Pay-Later
Target Q1 2022 earnings highlights short-term profit challenges, but long-term outlook is still strong
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
May 16th, 2022: Instacart’s confidential IPO, Amazon’s Selz acquisition, the launch of Shopify Audiences, and Amazon’s last mile rural delivery
It’s May 16th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Instacart files for a confidential IPO after reducing its valuation
Amazon shuts down its Selz acquisition with recent launch of Buy with Prime
Shopify moves into the advertising space with launch of Shopify Audiences
Amazon launches last mile rural delivery with independent convenience stores
And the Investor Minute which contains two items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
May 9th, 2022: Shopify’s Deliverr Acquisition, The Warehouse Market in Flux, Walmart’s New Activewear Line, Thrasio’s Layoffs and New CEO, and the State of the Economy
It’s May 9th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Shopify finalizes its $2.1 billion Deliverr acquisition
Warehouse market influx could mean opportunities for Amazon
Walmart invests in apparel with launch of new private label activewear line
Amazon aggregator Thrasio starts layoffs and and names new CEO
What the heck is the economy doing right now?
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
The Watson Weekly: A Quick Break!
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
April 25th, 2022: USPS’ New Mail Plan, the Buy Now, Pay Later Industry, Walmart Adds PayPal’s CFO, and Andy Jassy’s First Shareholder Letter
It’s April 25th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
The United States Postal Service released its mail plan for America
Is the Buy Now, Pay Later industry fundamentally flawed?
Walmart’s digital services growth gets another boost by adding PayPal’s CFO
Amazon CEO, Andy Jassy, released his first shareholder letter
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
April 18th, 2022: Etsy Strike Fizzles, the New eCommerce Site, Target and ThredUp, Shopify’s Succession Plan
It’s April 18th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Etsy Strike Fizzles Out Before It Begins
Kroger and Bed Bath & Beyond launch eCommerce site
Target Tiptoes Back Into Resale with New ThredUp Partnership
Shopify Makes a Succession Plan for CEO Tobi Lutke, Among Other Human
And the Investor Minute which contains six items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
April 11th, 2022: Farfetch invests in Neiman Marcus, the new CEO of FedEx, Macy’s expands supply chain operations, and Staten Island Amazon workers unionize
It’s April 11th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Cross-border Marketplace Farfetch Invests in Neiman Marcus Group
Raj Subramaniam is Promoted to President and CEO of FedEx
Macy’s, Inc. Expands Supply Chain Operations with New Fulfillment Center In North Carolina
Amazon Workers in Staten Island Voted to Unionize
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
April 4th, 2022: Recent Retail Earnings Call, The Digital Markets Act, SHEIN Solidifying Fast-Fashion Lead, and Target’s Transformation
It’s April 4th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Red warning lights flashing on economy from recent retail earnings call
EU passes sweeping privacy legislation called Digital Markets Act
eCommerce brand SHEIN solidifying fast-fashion lead over its apparel rivals
Target’s transformation has been powered by data science
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
March 28th, 2022: Guggenheim Partners’ Research, Amazon Roll Up Companies, FedEx’s Recent Earnings Call, and Google’s Last Mile Fleet Solution
It’s March 28th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Guggenheim Partners research highlights recent eCommerce trends to notice
Is this the beginning of the end for a lot of Amazon roll up companies?
FedEx strategy and execution issues on full display at recent earnings call
Google enters last mile supply chain space with its last mile fleet solution
And the Investor Minute which contains seven items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
March 21st, 2022: Marc Andreessen thoughts on retail stores, Walmart’s linchpin, Macy’s staying ahead of “The Reaper”, and Amazon’s gain in eCommerce
It’s March 21st, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Retail Stores Will Completely Die, Says Tech Investor Marc Andreessen
Walmart Sees Stores as Linchpin of Last-Mile Strategy
Macy’s Trying Very Hard to Stay Ahead of the Reaper
New Data Suggests Amazon is Gaining Share in eCommerce
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
March 14th, 2022: Kohl’s Transformation, Nordstrom’s Ad Expansion, Shopify’s Shipping Platform, and Amazon’s Investment in eCommerce Software
It’s March 14th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Kohl’s looks to stave off activist investors by transforming itself
Nordstrom plots ad expansion as its new retail media network generates $40 million
Shopify launches a shipping platform in Europe with Shippo as its partner
Amazon continues to invest in the eCommerce software market. Is a New Platform Coming Soon?
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Special Edition with Bill Williams
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Brands’ dependency on retailers, Amazon’s investments in cashierless stores, Albertsons review of its business, and Target’s 2021 Q4 earnings
It’s March 7th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Brands may need retailers more than they realize.
Amazon continues to make digital investments in its stores with cashierless technology and display advertising.
Grocer Albertsons starts a strategic review of its business.
Target 2021 Q4 earnings roundup highlights continued focus on employees, stores as hubs, and merchandise
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
February 28th, 2022: Walmart enters new economic environment, USPS Connect, what Daniel Loeb sees in Amazon, and Macy’s isn’t breaking up.
It’s February 28th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Walmart enters an economic environment that plays to the company’s strengths
Postal service launches new next-day local shipping service called USPS Connect
Activist investor Daniel Loeb sees $1 trillion dollars of untapped value in Amazon
Macy’s not breaking up but still a lot of hard work ahead
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
February 21st, 2022: Amazon and diversifying sellers, Shopify’s Q4 earnings, Hasbro and Mattel, and the 2021 PitchBook venture capital report.
It’s February 21st, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
What if Amazon is the best-positioned company to diversify sellers off Amazon?
Shopify Q4 2021 earnings shows growth but there are still strategy concerns
Hasbro and Mattel’s opposite economic views of toys’ industry future may have implications for other brands
2021 PitchBook venture capital report raises both optimism and concern
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
February 14th, 2022: Meta’s shrinking advertising lead, new CMS and eCommerce churn data, Amazon’s advertising, and what modern retailers must do to survive
It’s February 14th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Recent earnings calls indicate that Meta’s advertising lead is shrinking quickly, and Google is the biggest beneficiary
CMS and eCommerce churn data shows WordPress maintaining market lead, Shopify gaining on WooCommerce
Amazon advertising graduates from "Other" and 3P seller units set record
Modern retailers must prioritize differentiation and freshness to survive
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs..
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
February 7th, 2022: The Washington State Attorney General investigation and Amazon, UPS 2021 Q4 earnings, Glossier’s recent layoffs, and declines at Bed, Bath, and Beyond
It’s February 7th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Washington State Attorney General investigation shuts down Amazon price fixing program
UPS 2021 Q4 earnings highlights their focus on revenue quality
Glossier’s CEO learned a hard lesson in technology decision-making as it lays off 80 employees
Recent declines at Bed, Bath and Beyond make you wonder if it can make it
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/