19 episodes

The Ecom Edge podcast brings you conversations and tools to build ecommerce experiences that are worthy of customer advocacy. Learn how to thrive in an ecommerce landscape dominated by retail giants using digital personalization and intuitive customer experiences.These thought provoking conversations- on topics from ecommerce machine learning to online shopper psychology and brand differentiation strategies- will help you drive ecommerce growth.

The Ecom Edge Coveo

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The Ecom Edge podcast brings you conversations and tools to build ecommerce experiences that are worthy of customer advocacy. Learn how to thrive in an ecommerce landscape dominated by retail giants using digital personalization and intuitive customer experiences.These thought provoking conversations- on topics from ecommerce machine learning to online shopper psychology and brand differentiation strategies- will help you drive ecommerce growth.

    E18. Insights from Dick’s Sporting Goods on how to launch your ecommerce personalization program

    E18. Insights from Dick’s Sporting Goods on how to launch your ecommerce personalization program

    Join Shawn Wilkinson as he reveals how he successfully pitched, launched, and scaled a major ecommerce personalization initiative at Dick’s Sporting Goods. 
    Time stamps
    [01:00] What is the “Art of the Possible” personalization program?
    [03:51] What are the biggest challenges when launching an ecommerce personalization initiative?
    [07:01] What kinds of campaigns is Dick’s testing?
    [09:26] Did anyone in the organization create friction during the launch?
    [11:26] What role does ecommerce play in Dick’s overall differentiation strategy?
    [13:30] How do you leverage tech to scale your tests?
    [14:34] How are Dick’s customers reacting to personalization?
    [15:26] What sort of results can you expect from a personalization program?
    [16:43] How can merchandisers and ecommerce teams balance their normal tasks with a massive launch like this?
    [17:49] How is Dick’s future-proofing their personalization strategy?
    [20:14] Which brand is the best at ecommerce today?
    [21:40] What’s the best advice Shawn has received as a leader in ecommerce?

    • 26 min
    E17. Building A Retail Media Network with Bryan Gildenberg

    E17. Building A Retail Media Network with Bryan Gildenberg

    Ecommerce expert Bryan Gildenberg shares how you should think about your retail media network so you can boost conversions, increase average cart sizes, and add new revenue streams to your business.
    Time Stamps
    [00:17] Who is Bryan Gildenberg?
    [10:00] What are brands trying to do when they get involved in retail media?
    [12:26] Are retailers going to make the same mistakes as the dying newspaper publishing industry?
    [14:42] How are brands using content to sell?
    [19:39] Should retailers try to copy Amazon, or should they…?
    [23:08] How can brands avoid breaking the user experience when implementing a retail media network?
    [25:34] What were Bryan’s biggest takeaways from NRF 2023?

    • 30 min
    E.16 Navigating the metaverse, AR and the new experience economy as a retailer (ft. the Retail Prophet)

    E.16 Navigating the metaverse, AR and the new experience economy as a retailer (ft. the Retail Prophet)

    The impressive rates of digital adoption and retail tech development over the last two years have led to the genesis of a new retailer species. A type of retailer that is smarter, more agile and is evolving to compete with the likes of Amazon.

    Doug Stephens, aka. The Retail Prophet,  is a top retail influencer and Fortune 100 business advisor. In this episode, Stephen dives into the future of retail and the demands of the new experience economy. How can retailers like you navigate the metaverse, AR, AI (and many other emerging technologies) to remain top of mind for consumers? 

    Press play to find out.

    Topics covered:

    1:00 Who is Doug Stephens (aka. the Retail Prophet)?
    1:16 Could retailers have predicted the disruptions of 2022?
    4:03 Were retailers prepared for the pandemic?
    5:20 Shoppers want to buy more post-pandemic; but how are their new purchasing habits different? 
    9:25 In-store, online, or social commerce? What does the “new norm” for retail look like?
    10:33 How can retailers deliver a shopping journey that meets the demands of today’s experience economy? 
    13:02 What opportunities does the metaverse bring for retailers?
    18:24 How can retailers prepare for the metaverse and use this technology as major competitive advantage?
    20:01 When is VR not the right choice for your company?
    22:17 What promising tech should retailers be exploring and investing on in 2023?
    24:12 Why have retailers stepped away from 3D printing technologies?
    27:02 What myths are preventing retailers from adopting AI on their online stores?  What are the consequences of failing to deliver personalized journeys?
    31:40 What are practical ways retailers can build customer loyalty and an engaged community?

    • 34 min
    E.15 A retailer’s guide to developing an innovation mindset

    E.15 A retailer’s guide to developing an innovation mindset

    Retail innovation is highly affordable today. So why are retailers still resisting it? 
    In today’s episode, Jeff Roster, Strategic Retail Advisor with over 25 years of experience, joins Diane Burley to discuss the dangers of the industry’s conservative approach to innovation. Roster highlights why the pressure on adopting new technologies to differentiate is greater than ever, as shoppers have increasingly come to expect personalized journeys and memorable brand experiences.
    As Co-Host of the retail podcast, This Week In Innovation, Jeff believes that to stay competitive in the retail industry, companies need to adopt an innovation mindset and a culture where employees across departments are  “comfortable with …failing”. 
    “My entire worldview is based on looking at life through a retailer's eyes and looking at life through someone that has to understand costs.” - Jeff Roster
    Listen and learn how retailers like you can leverage technology, alongside talent to reach your revenue targets.

    Topics Covered
    2:45 How has a background in small retail influenced Jeff and his career?
    5:08 Why can good technology be superior to good talent? 
    7:35 How can retailers get through the “marketing noise” of technology vendors and determine which solution is best?
    10:42 Should retailers be more conservative or proactive when it comes to adopting new technologies?
    13:15 How are the management and people processes evolving with technology?
    16:00 How can retailers maintain loyalty when customers can easily compare and switch?
    16:37 How can decision-makers put themselves in the shoes of retailers?
    17:38 Why are retailers so resistant to adopting technologies which create a frictionless experience?
    21:06 Which segments and companies are innovating well in the retail space?
    23:38 How can retailers improve the buyer’s journey by innovating both in-store and online?
    26:34 Why is it important that retailers collect data across multiple channels and then act on it?

    • 29 min
    E.14 How to reinvent your ecommerce to make it recession-proof

    E.14 How to reinvent your ecommerce to make it recession-proof

    In the annual Coveo Holiday Report, 4000 consumers were interviewed, and 80% said they anticipate spending the same amount or more in this upcoming holiday season. How does this hold up against the volatility of today’s economy – and how can retailers prepare? 
    Alex Kantrowitz is an on-air contributor for CNBC and host of Big Technology podcast –  featuring interviews with tech disruptors like Meta, Amazon, Uber and the big minds behind them.  In this episode, Alex joins Diane Burley to discuss the current climate of the tech market, and how it influences ecommerce sellers and retailers. Alex tells us how the tech titans create a culture of innovation to stay competitive and how retailers can learn from this.


    Despite the numerous shopper trends identified for the 2022 holidays, the upcoming season remains generally unpredictable for retailers. Shoppers are returning to life “in-person”, hoping to put the pandemic in the backseat. Furthermore, inflation is driving costs, reducing margins, and consumers are becoming more selective about what they pay for – what else lies ahead? 
    Tune in to discover Alex’s suggestions for retailers to navigate through this volatile season and leverage the identified trends in the new year. If you’re a retailer looking to stay profitable and competitive in this economy – this one’s for you. 


    Alex Kantrowitz is the founder of Big Technology, a newsletter and podcast of all things featuring Big Tech from Amazon and Google to Microsoft. He is the author of Always Day One featuring over 130 insider interviews Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to hourly workers. His book detailed how giants Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft operate in Day One: by prioritizing innovation to stay on top. He has also been referenced by publications such as The New Yorker to the Wall Street Journal. 


    Topics Covered


    1:02 What do retailers need to know about the current state of the market?
    1:46 Customers are predicted to shop the same amount or more this holiday season (Coveo Holiday Report) – how does that contract with the current market climate? 
    3:42 What is the impact of increasing costs of customer acquisition, markdowns and product returns on profitability?
    5:11 How has innovation and reinvention played a role in keeping tech giants, like Amazon, relevant?  
    8:35 Why are growing retailers skeptical of reinvention and innovation?
    10:20 How can retailers and companies promote a culture of innovation like the tech giants?
    16:25 What do tech executives and leaders need to know to be profitable in this unpredictable climate?
    17:40 Budgets are tightening – what is one thing retailers and ecommerce leaders should focus on?
    20:40 What are the consequences for companies that aren’t willing to reinvent themselves? ?
    22:25 How do retailers make smarter decisions to maintain profitability, using tools such as AI?

    • 25 min
    E13. Building brand value with a direct to consumer (DTC) strategy

    E13. Building brand value with a direct to consumer (DTC) strategy

    In a post-pandemic world, brands are shifting their attention to selling directly to consumers more than ever. But this begs the question – how do you do this at scale?
    How can ecommerce sellers get as close to customers as possible without drowning in costs, complicated logistics and numerous customer demands?

    In this episode, Mike Stevens, best-seller author and founder of Hutside, Peppersmith and Rightfounder,  joins Diane Burley to discuss what works for successful DTC retailers, and tips for retailers expanding into DTC.

    During the pandemic, the world shut down and manufacturers had to find online channels to keep their businesses going. This created a DTC space for retailers looking to expand their sales, or digital natives looking to launch a great product idea.

    Stevens discusses ways that brands can remain relevant in a sea of DTC retailers, how big-box brands like Nike and Amazon benefit from DTC, and what consumers are looking for in a successful DTC brand. If you’re looking to go DTC in retail or marketplaces – tune in to find out how a personalized shopping experience online is your key differentiator.

    Mike Stevens is the author of best-selling The Direct to Consumer Playbook, a collection of stories from successful DTC brands such as Huel, graze and Snag. Stevens shares the strategies and common mistakes when it comes to building a DTC brand. He began his entrepreneurial journey at innocent drinks, before co-founding the confectionary company Peppersmith. Mike is now the CEO and founder of Hutside, and a management consultant. 

    • 38 min

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AlinaAli101 ,

Digital Advertising Specialist

Great & unique insights shared by the guests on this podcast. Diane asks great questions that always lead to interesting conversations!

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