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 Gierd. 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 marketplace seller to Amazon executive to entrepreneur, offering invaluable insights on marketplace strategy for brands, the true nature of marketplace competition, and how Amazon's massive investments in AI tools like Rufus are shaping the future of e-commerce.

Nick Kaplan closes with tactical advice for navigating the current tariff situation, describing it as a "hostage crisis" that requires decisive action from brands and retailers.

00:00 Introduction

02:34 Headline Hangover: Sponsored by Passport

15:18 Jordan Sielaff Introduction

26:26 Is Marketplace Creative or Cannibalistic?

37:17 Amazon's Leadership Through Investment and Innovation

50:08 Kaplan's Corner: Navigating the Tariff "Hostage Crisis"

#ecommerce #marketplace #amazon #retail #tariffs #supplychainmanagement #brandstrategy #amazonstrategy #aigeneration