Blog - Page 20 of 58 - Talk Commerce

Into the Metaverse: Sunglass Hut’s Aims to Bridge the Gap Between E-Commerce and Physical Stores

January 25, 2024October 5, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

Sunglass Hut ventures into the metaverse to seamlessly merge e-commerce with their physical stores. This new initiative further personalizes virtual fashion and improves the shopping experience for Sunglass Hut customers around the globe.

How to Optimize Identical Webpages with Perfect Canonical Tags

October 4, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

Discover the effective method of using a canonical tag to settle the chaos of similar webpages. Experience a boost in your site’s performance and enhance your digital presence.

From Amazon to Everywhere: Navigating the Multichannel Landscape with Jamin Arvig

January 29, 2024October 3, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

In a recent podcast episode, I welcomed Jamin Arvig, the co-founder of aiC Brands, a company that owns, operates, builds, and buys e-commerce brands. Jamin is also a co-founder of AIcommerce, a service company that provides multichannel marketing and growth benefits to brands. He is also involved in the Junior Presidents organization, which aims to teach kids about entrepreneurship and starting businesses.

The Importance of Multichannel Strategies for E-commerce Brands

Our conversation quickly shifted to the importance of multichannel strategies for e-commerce brands. Jamin explained that diversification is crucial for business stability and higher valuations. With the increasing competition and costs on platforms like Amazon, having a presence on multiple channels becomes even more important. Additionally, being present across various channels increases brand value and awareness.

Amazon’s Expansion Beyond Its Platform

We also discussed how Amazon is expanding beyond its platform through initiatives like Buy with Prime. Jamin explained that Amazon wants to capture customers who start their product searches elsewhere, and they are partnering with e-commerce platforms like Shopify to grow their infrastructure. Buy with Prime allows brands to leverage Amazon’s fulfillment network and benefit from quick delivery and lower shipping costs.

The Importance of Customer Experience and Branding Strategy

We addressed the misconception that Amazon is a soulless marketplace with limited opportunities for brand differentiation. Jamin explained that Amazon has added various features over the years that allow sellers to tell their brand story, such as branded pages, plus content, ads, comparable products, matrices, and videos. However, he acknowledged that there are still limitations to fully expressing a brand’s story on the Amazon platform.

We emphasized the benefits of creating a customer experience on your own website, where the possibilities are limitless. By leveraging the “Buy with Prime” button, sellers can combine the advantages of Amazon’s two-day shipping and name recognition with the ability to tell their brand story in any way they want on their own site.

The Need for Differentiation

We discussed how having a generic product on Amazon can make it difficult to stand out among the competition. Jamin highlighted the need for differentiation, including a strong supply chain, intellectual property (IP) protection, and a unique customer experience or community. He mentioned that having patents, trademarks, and even an app can make it more challenging for others to copy your product.

Choosing a Platform for Direct Sales

We discussed the considerations that bigger brands must make when choosing a platform for their direct sales. One advantage of using Amazon Prime is the happy feeling that comes with knowing your order will be delivered. However, Shopify Plus charges an additional fee for using an external gateway, and it’s unclear if Prime is even available for Shopify yet. Shopify has limited payment options compared to BigCommerce, which allows more flexibility.

Jamin agreed and added that regardless of the platform, there are costs involved in fulfillment, shipping, and labor. The difference lies in the commission charged by Amazon. He explained that deciding which platform to choose depends on factors like conversion rate increase and overall cost-effectiveness.

Expanding into New Channels

When expanding into new channels, Jamin explained that companies can either invest in building the capability internally, acquire a company with the desired capability, or partner with someone who already has it. He suggests that partnering with a fractional team can be more effective and cost-efficient, especially when resources are limited.

We mentioned aiCommerce as a potential partner, and Jamin agreed, stating that their reason for existing is to serve brands as they explore new channels. He mentioned that many brands achieve success by partnering with them.

Our conversation with Jamin provided valuable insights into the world of e-commerce, the importance of multichannel strategies, and the role of branding in differentiating products on platforms like Amazon. It’s clear that the future of e-commerce lies in diversification, customer experience, and strategic partnerships.

For more podcasts about Commerce

The Power of Goodbyes: Unwrapping The Mystery of Why Exit Interviews Matter More Than You Think

September 29, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

This article dives into the uncharted significance of exit interviews. Despite being overlooked, these powerful tools are the foundation of continuous improvement and future success.

A Deep Dive into Growth, Partnerships, and Staying Connected with Customers: A Conversation with Jason Sidana and Madeleine Anderson

January 27, 2025September 27, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

Hello everyone, I’m excited to share with you a fascinating conversation I had with two exceptional guests, Jason Sidana, Chief Growth Officer at Maxburst, and Madeleine Anderson, Partner Manager at Endear.

Meet the Guests

Jason Sidana is a man of many hats at Maxburst, a web design and development agency. He juggles sales, marketing, and project management while focusing on the company’s growth and helping clients achieve their growth goals. Jason’s passion for business is evident, and he enjoys delving into operational and management books.

On the other side, we have Madeleine Anderson, who is based in Fargo, North Dakota. As the Partner Manager at Endear, a CRM and clienteling tool for retail brands, she handles co-marketing activities, lead generation, and events with partners. Madeleine is also passionate about triathlons, which adds an interesting twist to her personality.

Jason’s Journey into the Industry

Jason’s journey into the industry is rooted in his family’s footwear and apparel stores. This exposure sparked his interest in retail, leading him to build a custom POS system and expand into wholesale and various sales channels. This entrepreneurial journey eventually led him to start his own agency, which later merged with Maxburst.

Maxburst’s Holistic Approach to Client Growth

At Maxburst, Jason and his team take a holistic approach when working with clients. They delve into the granular details of the business’s operations, including logistics and staff management. This comprehensive understanding of the client’s business allows them to identify areas for improvement.

The Power of Partnerships

Jason emphasizes the importance of partnerships when building a tech stack for clients. He believes that it’s impossible to do everything on your own and that finding good partners in the ecosystem is crucial. By collaborating with experts in specific areas, such as CRM or middleware integration, they can provide comprehensive solutions to their clients.

Leveraging Sales Staff as a Marketing Tool

Jason shares an interesting insight about using sales staff as a marketing tool. He realized that there was downtime during lunch hours and late evenings when the sales staff could engage with customers and potentially increase sales. This benefited the sales staff by earning them extra commission, creating a seamless customer experience, and improving overall satisfaction.

The Importance of Merging Retail and E-commerce

Madeleine adds to the discussion by highlighting the importance of merging retail and e-commerce. She explains that in the past, retail was seen as a stepping stone towards e-commerce, but post-COVID, retail has become crucial for quick and convenient product access. The omnichannel concept has gained significance, emphasizing the need for businesses to have a cohesive presence across multiple sales channels, including retail, online, and marketplaces.

Staying Connected to the Customer

Jason discusses the concept of companies losing their soul as they grow larger. He shares his personal experience of staying connected to the end consumer by working as a salesman in his family business. By doing so, he gained valuable insights into customer trends, preferences, and needs, which helped him make better decisions regarding purchasing and customer experience.

Wrapping Up

As we wrapped up our conversation, Jason offered his sneakers and website development services. Madeleine expressed her gratitude for being part of the podcast. This conversation was a treasure trove of insights and lessons, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, understanding the customer, and staying connected to the customer as a business grows.

For more podcasts about Customer Experience

Social Media Marketing for E-Commerce: Tips and Best Practices

September 27, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

In today’s digital age, e-commerce has become the new normal for shopping. As consumers spend more time online, it has become essential for businesses, particularly those in the creative and design fields, to market themselves effectively on social media. Whether you’re an independent designer or a creative e-commerce entrepreneur, the …

10 Reasons Why Shopware is More Robust than Magento

September 26, 2023September 26, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

Scalability, User-friendliness, SEO capabilities, and more – Discover why Shopware is outperforming Magento on multiple frontiers.

Revolutionizing Gluten-free with Mightylicious Cookies: There’s a Flavorful New Treat in Town

November 27, 2023September 22, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

Mightylicious Cookies, transforming the gluten-free snack industry with their artisanal and flavorful cookies. Balancing health-conscious with a delight for taste buds.

The Influence of Content Marketing in E-commerce

September 20, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

Delve into the game-changing role of content marketing in e-commerce. Learn to engage consumers, drive online sales, and stay current with shifting marketing trends by leveraging high-quality, persuasive content.

From Browsing to Buying: How Wix’s Ecommerce Platform Boosts Sales and Customer Engagement with Oren Inditzky

January 30, 2024September 19, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

In a recent podcast episode, I enjoyed conversing with Oren Inditzky, the VP and GM of Stores Ecommerce for Wix. We delved into the world of ecommerce, discussing the features of Wix’s ecommerce platform, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and the future of ecommerce. Here’s a recap of our insightful discussion.

Meet Oren: The Man Behind Wix Ecommerce

Oren, a passionate snowboarder and tech enthusiast, is the driving force behind Wix’s ecommerce platform. He oversees the day-to-day operations of Wix ecommerce, a platform that empowers merchants with professional tools to establish, manage, and grow their online businesses.

Wix Ecommerce: A Comprehensive Solution for Online Merchants

Wix ecommerce is more than just a website-building platform. It allows merchants to sell products across various channels, including their own branded online store, native mobile app, physical point of sale, and integrations with external ecommerce marketplaces and social media platforms.

From sourcing products and managing inventory to accepting payments, fulfilling and shipping orders, and obtaining analytics, Wix ecommerce covers all aspects of ecommerce operations. It also offers a wide range of marketing and ecommerce tools to increase traffic, customer engagement, and sales.

The Power of Third-Party Apps and Smart Algorithms

One of the standout features of Wix ecommerce is its integration with hundreds of third-party apps. These apps can be customized by developers and merchants to create unique ecommerce experiences at scale. Oren highlighted the growing number of apps joining the ecosystem and the upcoming collaborations to enhance cross-selling and upselling capabilities on the checkout page.

Wix also leverages smart algorithms for product recommendations, a powerful cross-selling tool. By suggesting other products to customers based on their browsing history, Wix increases the chances of cross-selling and upselling.

The Future of Ecommerce: AI and Content Creation

During our conversation, Oren revealed an exciting upcoming feature: the ability to generate an entire website using AI. This feature aims to streamline the website creation process and optimize day-to-day operations for businesses.

Oren also discussed the future of ecommerce, emphasizing the importance of content creation for online stores. He mentioned the potential for customers to purchase entire looks, including outfits, accessories, and makeup, through their connected devices. He also highlighted the use of augmented reality fitting rooms and the seamless integration of AI, advanced hardware, and logistics to deliver spontaneous purchases within hours.

Looking Ahead: The Importance of Repeat Customers and Content

As we look ahead to 2023 and the upcoming holiday season, Oren emphasized the need for online merchants to focus on generating repeat customers due to the skyrocketing customer acquisition costs. He advised utilizing the holiday season to obtain new customers and then using retention strategies to keep them coming back.

Oren also highlighted the importance of ecommerce content, attracting customers to the site and building trust and increasing conversion rates. He explained that good content goes beyond text and includes the overall design, images, and messaging of the site.

Wix’s Advanced Capabilities: SEO and AI Content Generation

Finally, Oren touched upon Wix’s advanced capabilities for improving site indexing and search engine optimization (SEO), making it easier for online stores to generate content and optimize it for SEO. He also mentioned the use of AI content-generation tools as a valuable resource.

In conclusion, our conversation with Oren provided a deep dive into the world of Wix ecommerce, revealing its powerful features, the role of AI, and the future of ecommerce. As we move forward, it’s clear that platforms like Wix will continue to shape the ecommerce landscape, offering innovative solutions for online merchants.