Future Commerce

Latest Episodes:

2023 is the Year of Good Enough Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

Lots of thoughts and feelings and experiences after NRF this year. Alicia Esposito sat down and interviewed our very own Phillip Jackson, along with Adam Blair, to debrief The Big Show and discuss what’s coming and what needs to be happening next in the world of commerce and why it’s a good time to be excited about it. Listen in now to hear it all, including intriguing metaphors and talk of noodles!

Close The Loop

0:04:15 - Lots of positive excitement was abuzz at NRF, even with the pain of Q4 in the past, there is enthusiasm ahead, and also lots of talk about ChatGPT

0:05:25 - Shopify came out into the enterprise space, and this was a huge shift and changes a lot of upcoming trends we will see moving forward

0:12:00 - Noodles, let’s talk about noodles and how they touch all the things, and how when it comes to technology, it’s really like a bunch of spaghetti touching all of the other noodles, so we need to layer tech on top of tech, understanding that all of it effects the rest

0:21:15 - The mass adoption of ChatGPT, and the swiftness with which it has been adopted are unprecedented, which will be interesting to see how this change of thinking will be the hallmark of a new era

0:27:40 - Actual diversity is being achieved within more companies and brands are not only talking about it, and also returns management is something that is being better handled now, leading to more positive change

0:31:05 - Is there a recentering happening in retail that is core to the industry, and what are ways that this recentering will make business more productive?

0:34:00 - With all of the industry talk and vernacular, how do we actually recognize the change in culture and workforce and address the buzzwords and change the language to enact the change?

0:40:00 - Events outside of NRF, like our Archetypes Pop Up, were very fun ways to create organic moments for people to connect more authentically and meaningfully within the industry community

Associated Links:

Check out Retail Remix podcast with Alicia Esposito
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"Shopify's Bait and Switch" Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Ian Leslie returns to Industry West as the new Chief Marketing Officer after an eighteen-month sabbatical. During this time, he gained experience in the SaaS world, working with Bolt and #Paid. Previously, Ian had raised concerns about Shopify in favor of Magento, but in his absence, Industry West has made the switch…Do his concerns still stand? Can Shopify really do it all, or is its “one-stop shop” reputation embellished? Are we seeing a return to print due to inbox anxiety? Should the 5 day work week still be the norm? If you’re curious to know more including one of Ian’s biggest regrets, press play now!

Bite-Sized Moments of Brilliance

“We're in a post-platform world, and there are a number of platforms out there that will provide you with the underpinning you need. And it's kind of up to you to captain that ship now. It's up to you to make good decisions and leverage that platform the way that you best can leverage it.” -Brian
“Your email inbox is a place of anxiety and a place where you don't want to live and everybody has to do it for work. You don't want to do it for yourself personally, and open rates are going down.” -Phillip
Future Commerce has leaned into building print and giving the people physical, tangible objects to hold. If you’re intrigued, get your hands on your copy of the Archetypes Journal and see what all the hype is about
“Shopify is simply the platform and you still have to do the marketing. And I think Shopify sold a great bill of goods in that regard.” -Ian
“Do your work and I don't care when you're here. Be responsible.” -Ian
“Ultimately I want to create content that people want to digest regardless if they're looking for a kitchen counter stool or not.” -Ian

Associated Links:

Check out Industry West
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[STEP BY STEP] What is the Importance of Storytelling? Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

We talk with Miguel Facusse, the founder of Jack Archer. Miguel touches on how to build a business with your exit plan in mind and the importance of storytelling in finding product market fit. He explains that he created his business with the intention of connecting with a specific audience and making an emotional resonance with them. Miguel also gives sage advice on letting your business be something you build and sell, rather than something you have a hard time letting go of. Miguel’s journey is a masterclass in serial entrepreneurship and using your skills to take brands to the next level.

In this episode:

00:05:08 - Building a Brand for an Exit
00:09:01 - Solving the Problem of Consistency in Travel-Friendly Apparel
00:12:00 - Product Quality, Returns, and Brand Resonance
00:15:21 - The Power of Data-Driven Storytelling: How to Leverage Words to Increase Your Bottom Line
00:29:27 - Creative Testing and Business Growth
00:35:11 - Product Development and Launch Timeline for Jack Archer

Associated Links

Want to learn more? Read more about how to architect a dreamy eCommerce exit on our Insiders blog here!
Learn more about OpenStore Here.
Listen to more Step by Step episodes.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[STEP BY STEP] What is the Role of Solid Fundamentals in Scaling My Business? Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

In this episode of Step by Step, Phillip and Brian talk to Manny Estrada, the founder of Wearva, about the role of solid fundamentals in scaling a business. Manny emphasizes the importance of having a strong team and giving them the opportunity to grow, as well as understanding the customer needs and building a strong tech stack that can scale. He also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to take the steps necessary to build their own businesses, highlighting that it IS possible.

In this episode:

00:05:38 - The Story Behind Wearva
00:13:11 - Maximizing Revenue Through Influencer Marketing and Tech Enablement
00:15:07 - Exploring the Benefits of Using Virtual Assistants for Business Growth
00:20:19 - Finding Partners to Help Along the Way
00:23:49 - Setting Targets and Knowing When to Sell
00:29:00 - Handing Off and Onboarding Through OpenStore
00:32:45 - Building Longterm Relationships with Influencers to Grow a Business

Associated Links

Want to learn more? Read more about how to architect a dreamy eCommerce exit on our Insiders blog here!
Learn more about OpenStore Here.
Listen to more Step by Step episodes.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[STEP BY STEP] How Do I Keep My Business Lean? Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

We talk with Jonathan Paquin, the founder of Nine Months Sober, about his experience in selling his business, and how he was able to keep it lean throughout the process. He explains that having greater control over the customer experience and doing it in a thoughtful way was key to his success. In addition, he talks about minimizing staff and overhead, as well as investing in technology in order to deliver a great product to customers. Jonathan's story is a great example of how to architect a business for a dream exit.

In this episode:

00:04:24 - Building an eCommerce Business and Scaling Current Ones
00:07:39 - Finding a Niche in the eCommerce World
00:09:08 - The Transition from Dropshipping to 3PL
00:16:17 - The Importance of Networking and Communication with Peers
00:26:05 - Maximizing Valuation Through Effective Facebook Advertising Strategies
00:29:51 - Exploring Strategies for Scaling a Direct Response Business
00:34:35 - Advice on Putting Yourself in the Shoes of the Buyers

Associated Links

Want to learn more? Read more about how to architect a dreamy eCommerce exit on our Insiders blog here!
Learn more about OpenStore Here.
Listen to more Step by Step episodes.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[STEP BY STEP] How Do I Vet for My Next Owner? Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

We talk with Brendan Brosnan and Chris Heckman, co-founders of Yogaste about their experience co-founding Yogaste and how their shared passion and ability to communicate well led them to a successful exit. Brendan and Chris weren't initially interested in selling their business, but they realized it was the best option to take their business to the next level. They share their experience with vetting owners to sell to.

In this Episode:

00:06:14- How They Founded Their E-Commerce Brand
00:13:14 - What it’s like building with a short-term focus
00:15:09 - The Power of Consistent Progress
00:19:34 - Leveraging a Network and a Lean Team to Test and Grow a Business
00:22:11 - The Benefits of Remote Talent
00:30:07 - Their experience of Selling a Business to OpenStore
00:38:38 - Advice for Entrepreneurs Looking to Build a Profitable Business on Shopify

Associated Links

Want to learn more? Read more about how to architect a dreamy eCommerce exit on our Insiders blog here!
Learn more about OpenStore Here.
Listen to more Step by Step episodes.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

[STEP BY STEP] How Do I Architect my Business for a Dream Exit? Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

We’re in Season 11 of Step by Step and this season, we’re focusing on architecting your business for a dream exit. We’ve partnered with OpenStore to bring you stories from real founders who have successfully built and sold their businesses and will equip you with the tools you need to confidently sell your own business. In this episode, we welcome Jeremy Wood, Co-Founder of OpenStore to discuss OpenStore’s approach to negotiating and buying businesses and what entrepreneurs need to know when thinking through an exit. Listen now!

In this episode:

0:07:38 - How to explore objective metrics for business valuation
0:10:12 - Discussion on the commonalities of profitable eCommerce businesses
0:13:48 - How to build Shopify stores and build for an exit
0:19:09 - eCommerce, drop shipping, and OpenStore's differentiators
0:23:29 - The importance of simplicity and transparency in eCommerce transactions
0:25:17 - The role of timing an eCommerce business exit
0:34:11 - Explore the OpenStore acquisition process
0:38:05 - How to maximize the valuation for your dream exit

Associated Links:

Want to learn more? Read more about how to architect a dreamy eCommerce exit on our Insiders blog here!
Learn more about OpenStore Here.
Listen to more Step by Step episodes.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Human Use of Human Beings Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

Is the current shift to more machines reminiscent of the eCommerce movement, where ease of use and fewer middlemen were promised but where actually more middlemen are created? What is ChatGPT leading to already, how will that continue to influence the future, and what did Norbert Wiener say back in 1964 that was chillingly accurate? There is a lot to discuss, so listen now!

Say That, But Shorter

“Layoffs are refocusing where the priorities are in one part of the business to futureproof itself for the next generation.” - Phillip
A lot of what was predicted by analysts as being the next generation-defining commerce experiences are going to prove to be wrong because it’s about what the consumer wants, and they aren’t wanting any of those things
Phillip apologizes to Brian for not getting his Quantum Yeet piece right away, and really if you haven’t been reading Future Commerce Insiders and The Senses, subscribe and see what you’ve been missing
“We as humans have been trying to accomplish jobs that are better done by machines. All the jobs that are best done by machines should be pursued as jobs that are done by machines.” - Brian
Different jobs will be created as current jobs are replaced by machines, and the output can actually be better
“There will always be a middle layer of infrastructure that's required and a middle layer of management to manage that infrastructure that's required.” - Phillip
We can continue down this path of just human interface connections and quantum computing becomes a problem for a future generation
Brian ends by reading a quote from 1964 by Norbert Wiener that will blow your mind and will likely lead to more interesting discussions on future episodes

Associated Links:

Episode 19 and Episode 20 from way back when the guys sat for three plus hours with Brian Roemmele
Check out The Human Use of Human Beings by Norbert Wiener
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Crossing the Rubicon Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

Even in the aftermath of difficulties within the retail and commerce world, there is a relentless positivity and excitement shared among those living and working in it. This was evident at The NRF Big Show this year. Have a listen as Phillip and Brian share more about their perspective on this and what this could mean for the very near future!

Aggressive Optimism

The NRF Big Show was great, and everyone was enthusiastic about being there, back at the Big Show like old times
Walmart Technologies and the strides they are making is impressive and really overtaking Amazon when it comes to eCommerce experience and customer expectations
Shopify, coming in with a booth at NRF, with their Commerce Components roll out made quite the splash
“Regardless of whether you think you already provide a lot of these products and services, the ecosystem needs you to just say it in their language.” - Phillip
“People look for creative ways to use tools they're familiar with.” - Brian
Despite fake news about a downturn in sales, inflation is slowing, and that techno-optimism can’t be turned down or slowed down right now
Brian and Phillip share some of their favorite parts of the NRF Big Show and why they were impactful
The world in which we live is one where it takes a whole lot for people to go deep
There were a lot of robotics at The Big Show this year, and interestingly also a lot of Chads
As we walk through a season where cost management is high, companies may want to forego cloud prices and find other solutions

Associated Links:

Check out Retail Remix by Alicia Esposito here.
Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
Get your copy of Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2023 Predictions: Looking Back, Looking Forward Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

Some Bold Predictions

Who are The Biggest Retail Winners of 2022? What about The Biggest Retail Losers of 2022? Are these surprises? Who will it be for 2023?
“If there is digital business to be won, Walmart can win it and they'll win it away from Amazon.” - Phillip
“The call to work back in the office again is going to spur a set of entrepreneurs from big and small brands alike,” leading to growth in the maker economy
The Biggest DTC Winner prediction for 2022 was so so right and was basically a no-look half-court swish, but will this be the case for our prediction for 2023’s Biggest DTC Winner?
“There is a small group of people that are realizing that physical media has a place in the world because the things they love are being taken away from them and they're no longer available on streaming services. When that happens, it changes the way people find safety and security in the things they find entertaining and important in their lives.” - Phillip
Brian has some bold and exciting predictions for the tech world for 2023, and it will be interesting to see how close he will get to being on the mark with these
“The tools that are about to be unleashed into the world are going to be absolutely the most interesting trends of 2023.” - Phillip
Have you heard of Media Chic? Phillip explains what it is and why he thinks we will see more of it in 2023
“People are going to revolt. There's going to be a genuine trend of people quitting to start their own businesses and really doubling down on what their home working situation looks like.” - Brian

Associated Links:

Have you checked out our YouTube channel yet?
RSVP to our Archetypes Pop Up X Industry West here!
Get ready for Archetypes, our newly published 240-page journal! Check it out at ArchetypesJournal.com
Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more of what we are witnessing in the commerce world!
Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on Futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.