The Watson Weekend
You've heard the weekly podcast to start your week. Now listen to the best video pod to finish your week - the Watson Weekend -- your irreverent take on the eCommerce landscape.
Recent Episodes
Sue Azari, a distinguished e-commerce executive at AppsFlyer, exposes the shocking truths about mobile app marketing that most retailers are getting completely wrong. From why your "best customers" might not be what you think to the real reason Temu is terrifying luxury brands, this conversation reveals the mobile strategies that actually drive revenue.
Sue Azari, a distinguished e-commerce executive at AppsFlyer, exposes the shocking truths about mobile app marketing that most retailers are getting completely wrong. From why your "best customers" might not be what you think to the real reason Temu is terrifying luxury brands, this conversation reveals the mobile strategies that actually drive revenue.
🔥 Mind-Blowing Revelations:
75% of mobile ad spend goes to remarketing (not acquisition!)
Why the "best customers download apps" theory is backwards
The Day 1 login metric that predicts lifetime value
How Temu became the #1 downloaded shopping app globally
Why luxury brands are scared of $2 impulse purchases
The "side of the desk" problem killing app strategies
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
2:46 - Headline Hangover: Sponsored by CRSTL
20:16 - Sue Azari Introduction (AppsFlyer E-commerce Expert)
34:15 - Apps as Loyalty Program Hubs: The Future Strategy
57:35 - Organizational Strategy: Who Should Own Apps?
1:02:44 - The Temu Warning: Why Every Retailer Is Terrified
💡 Why This Matters: Mobile apps aren't just another channel—they're becoming the primary battleground for customer loyalty. Sue's insights from working with global brands reveal the strategies that separate winners from losers in mobile commerce.
🎯 Subscribe for more mobile marketing secrets and e-commerce strategy deep-dives!
The Watson Weekend is sponsored by Mirakl.
Michael McCluskey, VP of Marketplace at Lowe's, drops bombshells about how they launched their marketplace faster than anyone expected and why traditional retail is dead.
Michael McCluskey, VP of Marketplace at Lowe's, drops bombshells about how they launched their marketplace faster than anyone expected and why traditional retail is dead. From competing with Amazon's drone delivery to the shocking truth about why most marketplace projects fail, this conversation reveals the inside strategy of America's second-largest home improvement retailer.
Key Revelations:
How Lowe's launched their marketplace in under 4 months (most take years)
Why Amazon's grocery strategy is failing vs Walmart
The "set it and forget it" marketplace myth that kills businesses
Inside look at Lowe's $ [____] million digital transformation
Why traditional merchants are panicking about marketplace sellers
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
2:47 - Headline Hangover: Sponsored by CRSTL
16:35 - Michael McCluskey Introduction (VP of Marketplace, Lowe's)
20:11 - The Lowe's Marketplace Strategy: Who It's Really For
1:04:13 - Closing Thoughts & What's Next for Lowe's
Why This Matters: Lowe's marketplace strategy could reshape how traditional retailers compete with Amazon. Their approach to seller onboarding, associate training, and omnichannel integration reveals the playbook other retailers desperately need.
Subscribe for more retail industry insider interviews and e-commerce strategy breakdowns!
The Watson Weekend is sponsored by Mirakl.
#watsonweekend #Lowes #Marketplace #Retail #Ecommerce #Amazon #Strategy
David Baker, CDO at Beekman 1802, spills the secrets behind TikTok Shop's explosive growth from political campaign tactics to beauty brand domination. From Obama's digital team strategies to becoming the #5 retailer in America, this deep dive reveals what actually works.
David Baker, CDO at Beekman 1802, spills the secrets behind TikTok Shop's explosive growth from political campaign tactics to beauty brand domination. From Obama's digital team strategies to becoming the #5 retailer in America, this deep dive reveals what actually works.
🔥 Key Takeaways:
Why TikTok Shop beats Instagram/Facebook 10:1 in social commerce
The "visual hook" formula that drives viral product sales
Why you need 10X more content than you think (and why most fails)
How to turn influencers into a sales funnel, not just marketing
The 3-second rule that makes or breaks TikTok success
Why "authentic" beats "polished" every single time
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
02:29 The Headline Hangover
17:33 David Baker Joins the Show
22:18 Content Volume Reality Check (10X More Than You Think)
34:12 Authenticity vs Production Value
44:58 The Real Cost of TikTok Shop Success
56:40 Political Campaign Tactics for Brand Building
Perfect for: Brand managers, e-commerce leaders, social media marketers, and anyone trying to crack the TikTok Shop code.
The Watson Weekend is sponsored by Mirakl.
#watsonweekend #TikTokShop #SocialCommerce #InfluencerMarketing #Ecommerce #DigitalMarketing
In this eye-opening full interview, Sid Jatia, GM's Global VP of Digital Commerce & Service, drops truth bombs about what really works in large enterprise organizations. From Microsoft to Under Armour to General Motors, Sid shares battle-tested strategies that challenge conventional leadership wisdom.
In this eye-opening full interview, Sid Jatia, GM's Global VP of Digital Commerce & Service, drops truth bombs about what really works in large enterprise organizations. From Microsoft to Under Armour to General Motors, Sid shares battle-tested strategies that challenge conventional leadership wisdom.
🔥 Key Takeaways:
Why execution beats vision for team motivation
The real reason cross-functional teams fail (it's not what you think)
How GM turns service appointments into sales opportunities
Why "picking up the phone" still beats Slack and email
The truth about AI implementation in Fortune 500 companies
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
01:57 Headline Hangover sponsored by Passport
16:37 Sid Jatia Introduction
25:30 Enterprise as Competitive Advantage
44:55 AI Implementation Reality Check
52:18 Voice Commerce & Future Trends
Perfect for C-suite executives, product managers, team leaders, and anyone navigating complex enterprise environments.
The Watson Weekend is sponsored by Mirakl.
#Leadership #Enterprise #GM #DigitalTransformation #TeamManagement
Nick Kaplan steps in as guest co-host with Rick Watson —and yes, we doubled up on Nicks because mediocrity requires one, but excellence needs two. Nick and Rick, who are in the same studio, talk about Peleton’s P2P play, Temu’s struggle, and they recap The Lead Summit. They are then joined by Shopify Agency operators to talk about their trip to Toronto for Editions.
Nick Kaplan steps in as guest co-host with Rick Watson —and yes, we doubled up on Nicks because mediocrity requires one, but excellence needs two.
Nick and Rick, who are in the same studio, talk about Peleton’s P2P play, Temu’s struggle, and they recap The Lead Summit.
They are then joined by Shopify Agency operators to talk about their trip to Toronto for Editions.
🧠 The Shopify Agency Lineup:
Mark Perini – Founder of ICEE Social
Jacquelyn Laufer – Driver Digital Partner
Nick Thomson – Head of Partnerships at The Maze Group
We cover several key issues arising from last week's Edition.dev event:
What were the vibes at Shopify Editions in Toronto?
Will there be a system integrator extinction event due to AI and Horizon?
What should agencies lean into as a result of Editions?
Is there really a staging environment? Are we serious right now?
Is Headless Dead To Shopify?
0:00 Introduction
3:20 Headline Hangover sponsored by Passport
3:26 Peloton repowered?
6:33 Temu - now half off
9:38 The Lead Summit recap
12:06 Shopify Editions conversation
12:40 Introducing Nick Thomson, Mark Perini, and Jacquelyn Laufer
13:20 What would you tell a friend about the Kool-Aid Mecca?
16:40 Shopify Design changes
19:35 Shopify catching agencies off guard
22:15 Shopify headless builds going full-stack
24:00 Sidekick demo and the future of AI
32:15 The future of the Shop App with AI?
39:37 The hypothetical agency
48:30 Shopify’s attitude towards the ecosystem
🙏 Big thanks to our sponsor, Mirakl:
“Because ‘Traditional eCommerce’ is just code for Not Growing.”
Join 450+ retailers scaling smarter with AI, marketplaces, dropship, and retail media.
#watsonweekend #agency #shopify #shopifyeditions #POS #ai #b2b
Join us for a captivating conversation with Dilip Keshu, founder of BORN Group and a visionary in global commerce. In this episode of The Watson Weekend Live Show, Dilip unpacks the evolving landscape of retail, the true potential of AI, and why human curiosity remains irreplaceable.
Join us for a captivating conversation with Dilip Keshu, founder of BORN Group and a visionary in global commerce. In this episode of The Watson Weekend Live Show, Dilip unpacks the evolving landscape of retail, the true potential of AI, and why human curiosity remains irreplaceable.
We dive deep into:
The saturated e-commerce market and how brands can truly stand out.
The three stages of growth in a market: Keynesian model, Say's Law, and continuous innovation.
Why "one-to-one personalization" hasn't fully arrived yet, and how AI is changing the game.
The concept of a "unique buying proposition" and its importance in understanding customer behavior.
The limitations of AI in moving culture and the enduring power of human inspiration.
The mechanics behind agency roll-ups and the challenges of scaling "art".
The evolution from customer experience (CX) to human experience (HX) and the role of purpose-driven design.
Why curiosity is the ultimate driver for brands and leaders in a rapidly changing world.
Don't miss this insightful discussion on the intersection of art, science, and the human element in the future of commerce!
Chapters:
0:00:00 - Welcome to The Watson Weekend
0:03:00 - Headline Hangover sponsored by Crstl
0:03:23 - NRF Nexus cancelled
0:06:26 - Shopify and ChatGPT partnering for ChatGPT Checkout
0:09:57 - Albertsons Cottage Cheese Sales
0:13:24 - Streaming is reaching upfront dollars
0:17:00 - Introducing Dilip Keshu: Founder of BORN Group
0:38:00 - AI's Limitations: Can it Move Culture?
0:51:00 - The Future: Metaverse & Immersive Commerce
1:04:00 - Unasking the Question: A Leader's Approach
#watsonweekend #ai #immersivecommerce #retail