Digital Commerce Next

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we discuss social marketplaces, including startup Vendly attempting to become the “Twitter of ecommerce”, Amazon’s agreement to pay sales taxes in selected states and the rise of retailer use of data tools for real-time, rapid-fire price changes.  We discuss what it all means for the industry and for retailers. Here are the show notes: 2:15  Social marketplaces: Vendly attempts to become “Twitter of ecommerce” 8:25 Amazon agrees to pay sales taxes 10:10  Retailer’s use of data tools for real-time, rapid-fire price changes 21:45  2013 MITX e-Commerce Summit- http://blog.mitx.org/whats_next_e-commerce/ The theme song for the Digital Commerce Next is "Sun Fun" by Big Underground Music Publishing and can be found at www.bumpmusicnow.com The Digital Commerce Next podcast is edited by Victor Patinha.

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we recap NRF 2013, discuss Target’s recent decision to extend price matching from competitor sites, Facebook’s newly announced Graph Search, Paypal’s partnership with NCR, and two recent announcements from Groupon—their acquisition of real-time location aware services company Glassmap and their launch of Groupon Payments. We discuss what it all means for the industry and for retailers. Here are the show notes: 1:44  Recap of NRF 2013 4:45 Target’s extension of price matching 10:10  Facebook’s Graph Search 18:33  Paypal’s partnership with NCR 23:41  Groupon’s acquisition of Glassmap and launch of Groupon Payments The theme song for the Digital Commerce Next is "Sun Fun" by Big Underground Music Publishing and can be found at www.bumpmusicnow.com The Digital Commerce Next podcast is edited by Victor Patinha.

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we take a look at the year ahead and make some bold predictions in what we can expect to see in digital commerce in 2013.     From the continued decline of traditional Point of Sale (POS) to the beginnings of the emergence of the elusive digital wallet, we expect 2013 to be a fast-paced and transformative year.   Be sure to read the blog post Six Digital Commerce Trends to Watch in 2013, where we elaborate on these predictions. Here are the show notes: 2:12  The arrival of the more intelligent, digitally-oriented, destination-based stores 10:12  The continued decline of the traditional POS 13:30 The arrival of smarter mobile shopping experiences 17:03 The emergence of the elusive digital wallet 22:09 The rise of new services to combat the “Amazon effect” 26:20 The extension of personalized social commerce into the physical world 30:10  Amazon’s movement into the physical store 31:45 International expansion opportunities

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we discuss the rise of the digital shopping mall on tablets, Amazon’s launch of Friends & Family Gifting, Instagram’s change in terms and conditions and Google’s re-introduction of GoogleMaps for iOS.    • Digital shopping malls on tablets.   Mobile shopping played a huge role over the holiday season, driving a large part of online traffic and transactions.  Tablets in particular played an influential role.  New experiences that are optimized for the form factor of a tablet are on the rise, with apps such as Flit Shopping providing the latest with a digital shopping mall experience.  We discuss where apps like Flit fit into retailers’ strategy and what they should be doing to optimize for such experiences. • Amazon’s Friends & Family Gifting.  Amazon unveiled a new recommendation section focused on gifts, utilizing Facebook data to suggest to shoppers gifts they could purchase

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we discuss the digitization of Black Friday, lower credit card (chip and pin card present) rates for online transactions on purchases made from retailer’s mobile websites and round up the latest social happenings from YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.   Larry Joseloff, eCommerce Strategist at Demandware, guests hosts this episode.  Larry and Gary discuss: • Stores bring Black Friday to the web.   Online transactions are increasingly becoming a larger percentage of Black Friday weekend sales and this year is expected to be no different.  While the tradition of going to the store on Black Friday won’t go away, more and more shoppers are opting to stay at home, shop over the web and avoid the doorbusting crowds.  We discuss what this trends means for retailers and what they can do about it.   • Mastercard trials new Near Field Communication (NFC) option at chip and pin rates.  Mastercard has rolled out a

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we discuss Amazon lockers, early adopter lessons with ship from store and consumer expectations with mobile in-store, including impact of Millennials. • Amazon lockers heading to retail stores.  Amazon recently announced they will be installing lockers in Staples and Radio Shack stores.  This clearly benefits Amazon, but also has an impact on retailers.  We discuss what retailers are gaining from Amazon’s latest move. • Consumer expectations are high with mobile use in-store.  A recent study by G2 USA and Savitz Research found that consumers are very unforgiving when in-store technology does not work, often times blaming the retailer.  This is particularly true among Millennials.  We discuss what risks retailers run if they don’t ensure an in-store mobile experience is seamless and how they can avoid common pitfalls. • Ship from store: learnings from early adopters.  Retailers such as Nordstrom, Toys R Us a

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we interview ecommerce industry authority and pioneer, Bryan Eisenberg.  Bryan recently released an ebook on 21 Secrets to Holiday Sales, and shares with us some of the top strategies retailers should be pursuing for online optimization to drive sales this holiday season.  We also discuss a variety of other topics including the evolution of global commerce, the growing importance of digital for physical brick and mortar retailers as well as a look back on 2012, discussing what the biggest surprise in digital commerce has been this year and what we should expect in 2013.   Click here to listen to the podcast <insert link> Here are the show notes: 1:55 Global commerce- Russia and other emerging markets 4:28  Mobile payments 7:49  Holiday 2012 online optimization tips- 21 Secrets to Holiday Sales 8:47  Checkout optimization 13:26 Prioritization of efforts for the holidays 15:40  Google Shopping 17:50 Testing – Always Be Test

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we cover a variety of topics from the continued rapid evolution of the tablet market to virtual POS and what it all means to retailers.  The topics discussed include:  • Apple releases the iPad Mini -  Apple made a big announcement, releasing the iPad Mini, which allows them to enter the smaller tablet market, going head-to-head with Google and Amazon.  We discuss what the smaller screen size means, best practices for retailers and impact the Mini will have in the store.   • Microsoft Dives Into the Retail Scene -  As part of the Windows 8 release, Microsoft announced they would be doubling their number of retail stores (including making the Surface available exclusively at their retail stores) as well as work with Best Buy to ensure sales associates were educated on Windows 8 and in-store product display was optimized for a good customer experience in Best Buy stores.  We discuss if these moves will make Microsof

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, Larry Joseloff, eCommerce Strategist at Demandware, joins the podcast to lend his expertise on a variety of hot topics in the ecommerce space at the moment including:   • Urban Outfitters kisses the cash register goodbye-  Urban Outfitters recently announced they are “getting out of the register” business with the launch of mobile point of sale (mPOS) throughout their stores.  We discuss if this finally the move towards a registerless store and what it means for retailers.  • Best Buy lowers the hammer on price matching  -  Best Buy announced that they are giving employees the opportunity to price match Amazon and other selected online sites in an attempt to close more sales in their brick and mortar stores.  Showrooming has inflicted incredible pain on Best Buy and other retailers and we debate whether this is the best way to combat the trend. •Facebook pushes harder into commerce with Facebook C

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we speak to Dan Shust, VP of Resource Lab and Chris Barcelona, Executive Creative Director of Retail at Resource.  Dan and Chris lead Resource Lab, which focuses on developing and prototyping innovative and emerging experiences that will define shopping in the future.  They understand better than anyone on what’s on the leading edge of digital commerce and bring their perspective to the show.  Some of the topics we cover include:  • Using Big Data to create innovative shopping experiences-  Retailers are sitting on an enormous amount of data, much of which remains untapped for creating more relevant and timely experiences.  How do retailers begin utilizing Big Data to create shopping experiences and what are some good examples of retailers starting to do so today?   • Open commerce-  While some companies such as Netflix and Best Buy have opened up their data to create a platform for shopping innovation, many have

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we do a wrap up of Shop.org 2012 by discussing the key takeaways from this year’s event in Denver and what they mean for retailers.  Our panelists for this podcast included experts from the Retail Practice team at Demandware who work on a strategic and tactical level with retailers, as well as have attended past Shop.org events in the past.  Rick Kenney, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Alison Stephanian, Associate eCommerce Strategist and Larry Joseloff, eCommerce Strategist, discuss key themes at Shop.org 2012, including:  • Stores strike back- Gerald Storch, CEO of Toys R Us presented a keynote on how stores are not dead, but in fact are more relevant than ever.  What were the key points and how did this resonate at Shop.org?  • Ubiquity of multichannel commerce- Multichannel was a key theme at the show, including heavy focus on in-store, mobile and social.  Keynotes from Jamie Nordstrom, CEO of Nordstrom, &

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we speak to Lauren Freedman, President of the e-tailing group.  Lauren discussed with us what needs to be on en the merchandising radar for 2013 based off of the findings in their recently published 11th Annual Merchant Survey.  She also shares thoughts on what retailers should be thinking about for the holiday 2012 season. Some of the topics we discussed include: • Roadmap planning- How merchants can create and maintain a robust roadmap, including ideas on executing effectively against that roadmap. • Personalization -  How to use customer data—from POS to commerce platforms and beyond to create relevant, personalized experiences.  • Mobile commerce-  Merchandising tips on mobile, including whether you should be merchandising differently on smartphones versus tablets and ideas on optimizing your existing mobile commerce presence.   • Social commerce- Social remains high as a tactic for mercha

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we speak to Keith Andersen, VP of Digital Advisory at RetailNet Group.  Keith works with many leading retailers and brands, and shared his experiences and insight during our interview.  We covered a variety of topics, including: ·         Digital commerce, retailers and brands- Digital commerce has had a disruptive effect on the relationship between retailers and brands.  How has the conversation changed and how will it evolve in the future? ·         The Amazon effect - Amazon’s success continues to apply pressures on retailers- how can retailers compete?   Will Amazon ever open up brick and mortar stores? ·         Apple’s success in retail-  Apple’s revolutionized what the brick-and-stores- how can retailers replicate this success?  ·     &n

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we discuss several hot topics as well as conduct a very special interview Craig Sheilds, VP of eCommerce at Jewelry Television (JTV).  The lineup includes: • Urban format stores- Target and other retailers are opening smaller footprint stores in downtown locations.  We discuss why brick-and-mortar retailers are doing this and if we can expect to see more of these type of stores in the future. • On-Demand Shipping Services  - The newest frontier in digital commerce seems to be on-demand same day shipping services.  Several start-ups as well as established players have launched services that will deliver products to shoppers to their homes on the same day they order them and in some cases, within the hour.  We discuss what it means for the vendors offering these services, consumers and the opportunity for retailers. • Square partners with Starbucks-  Square and Starbucks announced a partnership where Square wil

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we speak to Link Walls, Director of Product Management at ChannelAdvisor and Jennifer Artaban, Sr. Product Manager also at ChannelAdvisor.  In our lively panel discussion, we tackle: • Google Shopping- ChannelAdvisor has played a leading role in the changes with Google Shopping, so we get their point of view on what it all means • Blockbuster’s purchase of Mobile POS provider Alpha Bay  - does it make sense for retailers to get in the software business?  • Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS)- IPS has begun to reach a state of maturity letting retailers to provide indoor maps and track consumers indoors—is it the next killer app? • Software glitch lists products for a penny- A software issue from vendor Appleagle listed products on various marketplaces for a penny.  We debate if retailers rely too much on software vendors such as Appleagle and should the retailers honor the prices for legitimate consu

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we speak to Bert Jacobs, Founder of Life is Good.  Learn about how Bert and his brother founded the company and built it into a multi-million dollar business, all while preserving their core brand—optimism.  Bert also discusses the role that their community plays in influencing their brand, how they’re expanding their business into areas beyond apparel, and how you can get involved with Life is Good’s philanthropic efforts.  Here are the show notes: :58 Starting Life is Good 6:00 Connecting people and building a community 6:45 Persevering 10:15 Marketing an idea versus a tangible product 18:10 Listening to your customer 19:42  Staying true to your brand 22:23 Expanding the business 28:58 Getting involved with Life is Good: Life is Good Festival, Playmakers, and Do What You Like Events The theme song for the Digital Commerce Next is "Sun Fun" by Big Underground Music Publishing and can be found at www.bumpmusicnow.c

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next:  Learn all about the needs of the digital consumer—directly from a digital consumer.  In an interview with Regina O’Brien, Director, Learning and Organizational Development at Demandware, we learn what makes the digital consumer tick—from buying behaviors to killer apps of today and tomorrow.   Regina provides retailers a unique opportunity to get some behind-the-scenes primary research.

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we discuss the heated up tablet wars with Microsoft’s introduction of their Surface tablet, Google’s intro of the Nexus 7 tablet, the preliminary injunction affecting US sales of the Nexus, and Apple’s Mini- why this is all happening now and what it means for retailers.  We also discuss Microsoft’s acquisition of Yammer, and Neiman Marcus’ rollout of in-store clienteling to 4,000 stores—is the industry really ready for clienteling? We also have an interview with Michelle Magallon, VP of Digital Commerce at Perry Ellis International, who discusses channel conflict in a multichannel world, social commerce, and what we can expect next.    Here are the show notes: X:xx Tablet Wars: Microsoft Surface, Google Nexus 7, and Apple’s next steps in the tablet market X:xx Microsoft’s acquisition of Yammer Xx:xx Neiman Marcus’ rollout of in-store clienteling- is the industry ready? Xx:xx  Interview with Mich

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, learn all you need to know about Internet Retailer Conference and Expo (IRCE) 2012 in Chicago, Google Trusted Store Program, Verizon’s New “Share Everything” Pricing Plan, and Gardener’s Supply mobile strategy in an interview with Max Harris, VP of eCommerce at Gardener’s. Here are the show notes:  1:49 Internet Retailer Conference and Expo (IRCE) 2012 Wrap Up 9:47 Post-IRCE live panel for emerging brands: Putting IRCE into Action: Smaller, Emerging Brands Doing More with Less 10:35 Google’s Trusted Store Program 13:37 Verizon’s New “Share Everything” Pricing 16:57 Interview with Max Harris, VP of eCommerce at Gardener’s Supply (www.gardeners.com)   The theme song for the Digital Commerce Next is "Sun Fun" by Big Underground Music Publishing and can be found at www.bumpmusicnow.com

In this episode of Digital Commerce Next, we discuss how Facebook's use of its IPO proceeds may affect ecommerce, Pinterest's additional funding, and Target's decision to stop carrying Amazon's Kindle in its stores. We also interview Sucharita Malpuru, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester Research. The interview with Sucharita explores a variety of topics, including the evolution of POS in the digital world, Facebook commerce, and mobile commerce. Below are the show notes and complete transcription: 5:02 Facebook -- what the IPO means for future Facebook investment and commerce & for retailers 11: 18 Pinterest raises $120 million in additional funding- Raukuten's role, and what it means for Pinterest and retailers 15:13 Target phases out selling the Amazon Kindle- cross-channel conflict in the digital commerce age  19:40 Interview with Sucharita Malpuru, Forrester Research