Host Doug Hollinger interviews industry insiders to get their insights for where digital commerce is going – and how to maximize your ecommerce and digital marketing investments. Designed for digital and ecommerce professionals keeping up with trends while cutting through the noise in today’s complex market. Sponsored by Concierge Commerce, the ecommerce vendor selection platform.
Episodes
Thursday Feb 28, 2019
Thursday Feb 28, 2019
In her work as a project/program manager in the retail and travel space, Karthika Mayo focuses on building out digital solutions for direct-to-consumer brands and retailers.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Her recent work with cosmetics company e.l.f. to replatform from a legacy ecommerce system to Salesforce Commerce Cloud (along with other SF solutions)
- Why both vender salespeople and business executives should include a company’s broader digital team when considering a new commerce project
- Just selling to “who holds the checkbook” doesn’t work – your product may not be short-listed for consideration
- Digital stakeholders are found across the organization, and their adoption will determine a solution’s success post launch
- How the sales process itself is an educational opportunity
- Businesses use the RFP process to learn about available solutions and build out their list of requirements
- Insisting on using a scripted, scenario- and demo-based approach to evaluation is key to comparing options
- Vendors’ reputations in the market are powerful – retailers/brands narrow down options based on what they hear from their own network
- Why vendors should be transparent and proactive in helping a business understand potential tradeoffs needed or where customization will be required
- Why personalization is the theme for 2019 in the Beauty space
Monday Feb 25, 2019
Monday Feb 25, 2019
In her consulting work at Soleberry over the past 13 years, Gabrielle Hase has helped both established retailers and startup brands grasp how the digital space impacts customer behavior online and offline, giving her clients a deeper understanding of their consumer.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How her new UK-based digital venture, CatDogFish, helps her keep in touch with the market and gives depth to the advice she’s offering clients
- The differing challenges facing today’s "digital first" startups vs. established consumer brands – and what each needs to do to keep both their product strategy and their brand story pointed in the right direction
- How to appeal to today’s "fickle and promiscuous" consumers, who expect weekly if not daily engagement from their favorite brands
- Why your digital strategy MUST be driven from the very top of the organization to have any chance to succeed
- Why the biggest challenges for direct-to-consumer businesses include "the hygiene factor" and getting your data in order
- Her view that 2019 is the year to figure out your strategy for Voice
Thursday Feb 21, 2019
Thursday Feb 21, 2019
Chuck Cantrell, Director of Strategic Commerce Consulting for LiveArea, shares his thoughts on how direct-to-consumer brands and retailers can achieve omni-channel success, despite myriad internal/external challenges and competitive threats. Chuck outlines how focusing on the "Zero Moment of Truth" and and a customer-first philosophy can orient all of your omni-channel efforts.