The Digital Deep Dive With Aaron Conant

Aaron Conant
  • 4.6 (10)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

This is the Digital Deep Dive Podcast, where we tackle the newest trends, strategies and pain points shaping growth across the digital landscape.

  1. 7h ago

    The Continued Fragmentation of eCommerce With Nicole Reich

    Nicole Reich is the Chief Growth Officer at Blue Wheel, an omnichannel digital commerce agency that helps brands grow across Amazon, Walmart, DTC, social commerce, and retail media through connected strategy, performance marketing, and data-driven execution. In her role, Nicole leads growth strategy across sales and marketing, helping unify channels and reduce fragmentation across the eCommerce ecosystem to improve brand performance. She focuses on bringing together systems, teams, and insights to help enterprise brands scale more efficiently. In this episode… Brands today are operating in an environment where channels, platforms, and tools are multiplying faster than most teams can keep up with. This growing complexity is creating fragmentation across data, content, and execution, making it harder to maintain clarity and alignment. As expectations rise across every part of eCommerce, how do teams stay focused on what actually matters? Nicole Reich, a digital commerce strategy expert, unpacks why fragmentation has become one of the biggest challenges for modern brands. The issue isn't just more channels, but the compounding effect of new tools and workflows layered on top of existing systems. Clear KPIs and simplified decision-making frameworks are positioned as essential tools for cutting through the noise and refocusing teams on outcomes that drive performance. Nicole also highlights the importance of aligning teams and structuring content approaches so efforts across channels reinforce one another rather than compete or operate in isolation. These insights point toward bringing structure and clarity back into an increasingly complex ecosystem. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant and Nicole Reich, Chief Growth Officer at Blue Wheel, discuss why fragmentation is reshaping digital commerce. Nicole addresses rising channel complexity and brand pressure, explains how clear KPIs reduce AI overload and improve decision-making, and shares how shifting search behavior is changing discovery and content strategy. She also touches on internal silos and AI-driven workflow changes across teams.

    29 min

  2. 7h ago

    The Continued Fragmentation of eCommerce With Nicole Reich

    Nicole Reich is the Chief Growth Officer at Blue Wheel, an omnichannel digital commerce agency that helps brands grow across Amazon, Walmart, DTC, social commerce, and retail media through connected strategy, performance marketing, and data-driven execution. In her role, Nicole leads growth strategy across sales and marketing, helping unify channels and reduce fragmentation across the eCommerce ecosystem to improve brand performance. She focuses on bringing together systems, teams, and insights to help enterprise brands scale more efficiently. In this episode… Brands today are operating in an environment where channels, platforms, and tools are multiplying faster than most teams can keep up with. This growing complexity is creating fragmentation across data, content, and execution, making it harder to maintain clarity and alignment. As expectations rise across every part of eCommerce, how do teams stay focused on what actually matters? Nicole Reich, a digital commerce strategy expert, unpacks why fragmentation has become one of the biggest challenges for modern brands. The issue isn't just more channels, but the compounding effect of new tools and workflows layered on top of existing systems. Clear KPIs and simplified decision-making frameworks are positioned as essential tools for cutting through the noise and refocusing teams on outcomes that drive performance. Nicole also highlights the importance of aligning teams and structuring content approaches so efforts across channels reinforce one another rather than compete or operate in isolation. These insights point toward bringing structure and clarity back into an increasingly complex ecosystem. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant and Nicole Reich, Chief Growth Officer at Blue Wheel, discuss why fragmentation is reshaping digital commerce. Nicole addresses rising channel complexity and brand pressure, explains how clear KPIs reduce AI overload and improve decision-making, and shares how shifting search behavior is changing discovery and content strategy. She also touches on internal silos and AI-driven workflow changes across teams.

    29 min

  3. Jun 18

    The Rising Importance of Reddit With Jonny Waite

    Jonny Waite is the Co-founder and CEO of RECHO, a full-service Reddit marketing agency helping brands grow through organic community management, paid advertising, and Reddit-native strategy. With 17 years of agency-side digital experience, Jonny built SEO, paid search, Amazon, and omnichannel programs for Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups. He helps brands navigate Reddit authentically, manage reputation, and improve visibility across search and AI-driven discovery. In this episode… Reddit has become a critical place where consumers discover, debate, and validate brands. As AI tools increasingly pull from Reddit conversations, brands can no longer afford to ignore what is being said there. What does it take to show up the right way before competitors, customers, and AI models define the narrative? According to Jonny Waite, a Reddit and SEO expert, the answer starts with listening before engaging. Brands should first understand where they are being mentioned, how competitors are showing up, and which subreddits matter most before jumping into the conversation. Jonny explains that Reddit rewards authentic, consistent participation, not brand-driven responses that only appear when reputation is at risk. For brands thinking about AI visibility, Reddit is becoming a long-term authority channel where early, thoughtful engagement can shape discoverability and trust. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant chats with Jonny Waite, Co-founder and CEO of RECHO, about why Reddit has become essential for brand visibility. Jonny shares how LLMs are accelerating Reddit's influence, why brands should assess sentiment before acting, and how paid and organic Reddit strategies differ. He also touches on budget ownership, PR, SEO, and future-proofing AI visibility.

    28 min

  4. Jun 4

    Mastering Agentic Commerce: How AI Is Reshaping eCommerce Strategy With Aaron Conant

    Aaron Conant is the Co-founder and Chief Digital Strategist at BWG Connect, a leading platform for executive strategy and networking sessions. He is an eCommerce expert with over a decade of experience in digital commerce, providing advisory services to brands on Amazon sales strategies, retail media, DTC platform selection, and SEO. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Global, has built an exclusive network of over 125,000 senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events annually.  In this episode… The digital commerce landscape is evolving faster than ever, with AI and automated shopping systems transforming the way consumers discover and buy products. Traditional strategies like keyword stuffing and static product descriptions no longer guarantee success. How can brands stay ahead in a space where AI drives both discovery and conversion? Aaron Conant, an expert in digital commerce and eCommerce strategy, explains that adapting to agentic commerce is essential for brands aiming to thrive in this AI-driven environment. He highlights the shift on platforms like Amazon, where product images now play a bigger role in conversion, and AI systems analyze textual content to generate recommendations. Aaron suggests prioritizing bullet points that answer AI queries, leveraging TikTok and Reddit for traffic, and maintaining human oversight in AI-assisted content creation. By focusing on these strategies, brands can future-proof their online presence and optimize both discoverability and engagement. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Chad Franzen of Rise25 sits down with Aaron Conant, Co-founder and Chief Digital Strategist at BWG Connect, to discuss why brands must adapt to AI-driven shopping. Aaron covers agentic commerce, optimizing product content for AI, and leveraging emerging platforms like TikTok and Reddit. He also touches on human oversight in AI content creation and strategic networking for modern brand success.

    30 min

  5. May 21

    Amazon's Supply Chain Announcement With Corey Apirian

    Corey Apirian is the CEO of Davinci Micro Fulfillment, a full-service logistics company that uses technology and partners with brands and retailers to help market, sell, fulfill, and ship their products. As an accomplished supply chain and operations leader, Corey has over 15 years of senior management experience. With more than 20 years of experience in the eCommerce fulfillment industry, Corey has been drop shipping for every major retailer since 2004 and has launched over 50 different subcategories through individual online and brick-and-mortar channels. In this episode… The supply chain conversation is shifting from simple fulfillment to a broader question of how brands move inventory across every channel with greater control, flexibility, and margin awareness. Amazon's latest supply chain announcement puts that shift into sharper focus, signaling a bigger move into logistics services beyond traditional FBA. As marketplace profitability gets harder to protect, how should brands think about Amazon's expanding role in the supply chain? Amazon Supply Chain Services can be useful when brands treat it as one part of a broader logistics strategy rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. Corey Apirian, an eCommerce, logistics, and supply chain expert, explains how Amazon is applying a familiar playbook: building powerful infrastructure for itself, then offering that capability to the broader market. Corey points out that brands may benefit from Amazon's rates, scale, and operational discipline, especially for storage, first-mile needs, or select freight opportunities. At the same time, carrier diversification, decentralized inventory, and sharper visibility are essential for protecting profitability and avoiding overdependence. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant sits down with Corey Apirian, CEO of Davinci Micro Fulfillment, to talk about Amazon's Supply Chain announcement and what it means for brands. Corey examines why brands are watching Amazon closely, how logistics diversification supports profitability, and the best fulfillment strategies across marketplaces. He also touches on carrier networks, inventory placement, and the future of third-party logistics.

    23 min

  6. May 15

    Maximizing Digital Sales: A Compilation of Best Practices and Trends

    Aaron Conant is the Co-founder and Chief Digital Strategist at BWG Connect, a leading platform for executive strategy and networking sessions. He is an eCommerce expert with over a decade of experience in digital commerce, providing advisory services to brands on Amazon sales strategies, retail media, DTC platform selection, and SEO. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Global, has built an exclusive network of over 125,000 senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events annually.  In this episode… In today's digital landscape, brands are seeking strategies that not only deliver results but also stand the test of time. As eCommerce continues to surge, brands must stay ahead of the competition and drive sustainable growth. Identifying the right strategies is crucial, so what are the most effective approaches for digital success? To answer this, industry experts share valuable insights on everything from omnichannel strategies to personalized marketing. Dan Brownsher stresses the importance of strategic channel management, urging brands to carefully orchestrate where and how they sell their products. Todd Hassenfelt highlights the need for personalized marketing efforts and the optimization of the digital shelf to meet each audience's unique needs. Corey Apirian explains how getting inventory closer to customers can drastically improve delivery speed and accuracy. Spencer Millerberg discusses the importance of understanding how customers search for products, emphasizing the need for brands to avoid the "curse of knowledge" when creating product listings and to align product names with what customers actually search for. Meanwhile, Andrew Lipsman explores the evolving landscape of retail media, particularly the growing impact of digital ads moving up the funnel and the rise of in-store digital experiences. These actionable takeaways provide clear guidance on refining your brand's strategy in the digital world. In this special compilation episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant revisits his most insightful conversations with industry experts. The episode dives into topics like strategic omnichannel management, the importance of personalized marketing, and the future of retail media, including in-store digital ad experiences. It's a must-listen for digital marketers looking to stay ahead of the curve and optimize their strategies for sustained growth.

    9 min

  7. May 7

    Agentic Readiness With AWS and The CGF With Wesley Wilson & Justin Honaman

    Wesley Wilson is the Head of the US and Canada for The Consumer Goods Forum (CFG), a CEO-led global organization advancing the future of retail and consumer goods. With a background in consumer goods investment and experience at Walmart and Mars, Wesley helps industry leaders collaborate on innovation, standards, intelligent commerce, adaptive value chains, and evolving consumer needs. He brings a global, multichannel perspective to conversations about data, AI, and the future of consumer goods.  Justin Honaman is the Global Head of Worldwide Retail, Restaurants, and Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud platform helping companies build, scale, and modernize digital capabilities. Justin works with global retail and CPG leaders on supply chain, eCommerce, data, analytics, AI, digital engagement, and customer experience solutions. Recognized as the 2026 Top AI Thought-Leader by Rethink Retail, he brings practical insight into how brands can use generative and agentic AI while navigating data, governance, and talent challenges. In this episode… AI has quickly moved from experimentation to expectation, but many organizations are still working through the foundations that make it useful. Clean data, strong governance, and the right talent are becoming just as important as the tools themselves. As agentic AI becomes more practical, how can companies move fast without losing control? The answer lies in building flexible data systems, empowering teams, and choosing AI investments that align with real business value. Wesley Wilson brings expertise in retail and consumer goods strategy, while Justin Honaman adds a technology and cloud perspective on how brands are applying generative and agentic AI today. Wesley emphasizes the need for common standards, data control, and a clear customer value proposition, while Justin points to cloud adoption, talent development, and secure agent management as signs that companies are moving from curiosity to execution. Together, they suggest that success will come from balancing speed with structure, experimentation with governance, and innovation with practical use cases. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant chats with Wesley Wilson, Head of the US and Canada for The Consumer Goods Forum, and Justin Honaman, Global Head of Worldwide Retail, Restaurants, and Consumer Goods Business Development at Amazon Web Services. They focus on agentic AI and the data challenges shaping retail and consumer goods. Wesley and Justin discuss data readiness, AI governance, talent gaps, and touch on personalization, search, and what comes next for AI adoption.

    39 min

  8. Apr 24

    Getting the Most Out of Your Returns With JD Sass

    JD Sass is the Co-founder and CEO of Axiom Return Solutions, a reverse logistics company that helps Amazon sellers and brands recover value from returns and improve post-purchase performance. He built the company after identifying inefficiencies in how returns are managed across marketplaces. JD leads a team that inspects, grades, and resells inventory while uncovering actionable data insights to reduce losses. He works with brands of all sizes to turn returns into revenue opportunities and improve decision-making across the supply chain. In this episode… Returns are often treated as an unavoidable cost of doing business and are absorbed into margins without much scrutiny. Yet behind every return is a set of decisions, missed insights, and potential value left on the table. How can overlooked processes become a meaningful driver of profitability instead of a sunk cost? As an expert in reverse logistics and returns management, JD Sass explains that brands can significantly improve profitability by rethinking how they handle returned inventory. Rather than defaulting to disposal, he highlights the importance of inspecting, grading, and reintegrating products back into sales channels whenever possible. Many items are actually new and recoverable, and leveraging return data can uncover product issues, reduce future return rates, and inform better operational decisions. JD also stresses the value of filing claims and maintaining visibility into inventory to prevent unnecessary losses. In this episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Aaron Conant sits down with JD Sass, Co-founder and CEO of Axiom Return Solutions, to discuss how brands can turn returns into a profitability lever. JD breaks down why disposal costs more than brands realize, how to recover value from returned inventory, and what data reveals about return behavior. He also touches on claim recovery strategies and optimizing listings to reduce returns.

    28 min
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4.6
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10 Ratings

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This is the Digital Deep Dive Podcast, where we tackle the newest trends, strategies and pain points shaping growth across the digital landscape.

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