Articles & Podcast Episodes

Ben Dutter

AI and Analytics: Transforming the Future of eCommerce with Ben Dutter at eTail Palm Springs

On a special episode of Talk Commerce from E-Tail West, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ben Dutter, Chief Strategy Officer at Power Digital. Ben, whose name he explains is “like butter with a D,” brings extensive experience in helping over 600 brands grow through strategy, marketing, and data measurement.

The Democratization of Analytics Through AI

One of the most striking insights from our conversation was how AI is revolutionizing access to analytics. Ben highlighted that what once required hours of analysis by skilled professionals can now be accomplished in minutes by anyone with access to AI tools. “The interface reducing the friction of accessing that data has been the biggest boon in the last couple of years,” Ben explained.

As someone who’s seen the evolution of ecommerce analytics firsthand, I was particularly intrigued by Power Digital’s internal tool that allows clients to query their data through a chat-based interface. This democratization of data access represents a significant shift in how businesses can make informed decisions.

The Current State of AI: Challenges and Opportunities

During our discussion, Ben candidly addressed the elephant in the room – AI hallucinations. While the technology has made remarkable strides, he advised caution when using AI for major business decisions. “It’s still about 10 to 15 percent things that completely just don’t exist,” he noted regarding AI-generated research, emphasizing the continued need for human verification.

The Future of Shopping: AI Agents and Commerce

Perhaps the most fascinating part of our conversation centered on the future of AI shopping agents. Ben shared his vision of tools like Perplexity evolving into full-service shopping assistants capable of completing transactions. This led to an interesting discussion about how merchants need to prepare their infrastructure for this emerging technology.

SEO Evolution in an AI-Driven World

The impact of AI on SEO cannot be overlooked. Ben referenced HubSpot’s recent experience with traffic loss due to chat bots, highlighting how traditional search patterns are shifting. This brings up crucial considerations for merchants planning their digital strategies.

Strategic Planning for Peak Shopping Seasons

When it comes to preparing for major shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Ben emphasized the importance of long-term planning. “Black Friday starts January 1st,” he noted, stressing the significance of building mental availability and brand awareness throughout the year.

The Future of Retail: Online vs. Physical Presence

Our conversation concluded with an insightful discussion about the balance between online and physical retail. Ben shared the striking statistic that approximately 80% of all transactions (excluding gas and grocery) still occur in physical stores, providing valuable context for merchants considering their omnichannel strategies.

As we wrapped up our conversation, Ben introduced FusePoint, Power Digital’s new sub-agency focused on pre and post-marketing strategy. This new venture aims to help brands develop effective go-to-market strategies while ensuring measurable results.

For those interested in connecting with Ben or learning more about Power Digital’s work, you can find him on LinkedIn – he’s the only Ben Dutter in the world, as he proudly notes.

This conversation with Ben highlighted the rapid evolution of ecommerce and the critical role AI plays in shaping its future. As we continue to navigate these changes, it’s clear that staying informed and adaptable will be key to success in the digital commerce landscape.

Want to hear more insights from Ben Dutter? Listen to the full Talk Commerce episode for a deeper dive into these topics and more.

Social Commerce Evolution: How Motom is Bridging the Creator-Brand Gap

Motom’s innovative platform bridges the gap between brands and creators, revolutionizing social commerce with data-driven solutions

Building E-commerce Success: Insights from Lantern Sol Founder Jay Neyer

As the host of Talk Commerce, I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jay Neyer, founder of Lantern Sol and a true e-commerce success story. From his humble beginnings as an accounting student to building and selling a $25 million e-commerce business, Jay’s journey offers valuable insights for anyone in the digital commerce space.

From Philosophy to Profit: An Entrepreneur’s Journey

Jay’s story begins unusually – with a degree in accounting and philosophy. After realizing corporate life wasn’t his calling (literally crying on his drive home from work), he made a pivotal decision to learn coding and web development. This led him into the Shopify ecosystem, where he’s now helped build over 500 websites generating more than $113 million in online sales.

The Power of Persistence in E-commerce

One of the most striking insights from my conversation with Jay was his emphasis on persistence. “As long as you have that stubborn bullheaded mentality of just running through wall after wall after wall, it’s impossible to fail,” he shared. His first venture saw zero sales initially, but this experience laid the groundwork for his later success – building a fitness product company from zero to $25 million over seven years.

The Age of Influencers: A New Marketing Paradigm

Let me share something fascinating that Jay revealed about current e-commerce trends. While everyone’s talking about AI, Jay emphasized we’re in “the age of influencers.” His agency has found remarkable success with what he calls “whitelisting” – running the same ad content through both brand pages and influencer accounts. The key insight? Even micro-influencers with just 1,000-2,000 followers can drive significant results.

Landing Page Innovation: The Future of Conversion

One strategy that particularly caught my attention was Jay’s approach to landing pages. His team creates hyper-specific pages that maintain consistency between ad content and landing page experience, especially when working with influencers. This attention to detail in the customer journey has proven to be a game-changer for their clients.

Authenticity: The Ultimate Differentiator

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway from our conversation was Jay’s emphasis on authentic branding. In a space where many are tempted to simply copy successful competitors, Jay advocates for finding and maintaining your true authentic voice. This philosophy has not only shaped his client work but also his personal approach to business, combining his diverse interests in languages, music, and entrepreneurship.


As someone who’s been in the e-commerce space for years, I found Jay’s insights both refreshing and practical. His journey from an accounting student to a successful e-commerce entrepreneur and agency founder demonstrates that success in this field isn’t just about technical knowledge – it’s about persistence, authenticity, and the ability to evolve with the changing digital landscape.

Want to hear more of Jay’s insights? Listen to the full episode of Talk Commerce to dive deeper into his strategies for e-commerce success.

Listen to more episodes about digital transformation here

SIMKHAI is Bridging the Digital-Physical Gap in Luxury Fashion

The Evolution of a Luxury Powerhouse

When I sat down with Nicole Goldberg, Director of E-commerce at SIMKHAI, and Madeleine Anderson, Partner Manager at Endear, for our special eTail West edition of Talk Commerce, I was immediately struck by the brand’s remarkable journey. From its humble beginnings as a wholesale business 15 years ago to its current status as a digital-forward luxury fashion house, SIMKHAI’s evolution reflects the changing landscape of luxury retail.

Building a Digital Presence While Maintaining Personal Touch

“Our clothes really grow and fit with your different times in life,” Nicole shared during our conversation. What fascinates me about SIMKHAI’s approach is their ability to cater to a remarkably broad demographic, serving customers from 20 to 65 years old. This diversity presents unique challenges in the digital space, particularly when it comes to maintaining the personal touch that luxury shoppers expect.

The Technology Revolution at SIMKHAI

During our discussion, Nicole revealed several exciting technological initiatives that are reshaping the SIMKHAI shopping experience:

  1. AI-Powered Fitting Technology: The brand is partnering with Laws of Motion to launch an innovative fit tool later this year, addressing one of online luxury fashion’s biggest challenges.
  2. Smart Merchandising: Implementing AI solutions to enhance search functionality and personalization while maintaining the human element crucial to luxury service.
  3. Video Integration: Showcasing the craftsmanship and movement of garments through sophisticated video content throughout the digital experience.

Clienteling in the Digital Age

A significant part of our conversation centered around clienteling, with valuable insights from both Nicole and Madeleine. SIMKHAI currently utilizes Endear’s platform for their retail store clienteling, enabling direct communication with customers. As Madeleine pointed out during our discussion, the challenge lies in extending this personal touch to online-only shoppers. This collaboration between SIMKHAI and Endear exemplifies how luxury brands can leverage technology to maintain intimate customer relationships across all channels.

Balancing AI and Human Touch

What really impressed me during our conversation was SIMKHAI’s thoughtful approach to technology integration. As Nicole explained, they’re careful to maintain that crucial balance between convenience and personal service. “A sixty-year-old woman isn’t going to want an AI bot telling her what to wear,” Nicole noted, highlighting the brand’s understanding of their diverse customer base.

The Future of Luxury Digital Retail

SIMKHAI’s expansion into new territories – including menswear and accessories – while maintaining their commitment to personalized service showcases their forward-thinking approach. Their success in bridging the gap between wholesale and D2C, while building a robust digital presence, serves as a blueprint for luxury brands in the digital age.

Looking Ahead

As our conversation wrapped up, Nicole’s excitement about SIMKHAI’s Spring collection was palpable. The brand’s continued innovation in both fashion and technology promises an exciting future for luxury retail.

From my perspective as host of Talk Commerce, SIMKHAI’s journey represents a masterclass in digital transformation while maintaining the essence of luxury service. Their approach to integrating technology without losing the personal touch that luxury customers expect is something all retailers can learn from.

Visit SIMKHAI.com to explore their latest collections, including their stunning Spring lineup featuring the new Gingham collection and much-anticipated Pliissé collection.

Want to hear more insights from Nicole and other industry leaders? Subscribe to Talk Commerce wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about what merchants are focusing on here.

Jogology Elevates Sustainable Running With New Crew Length Performance Socks

Jogology introduces new Crew Length Performance Running Socks, combining advanced technical features with sustainable materials for environmentally conscious runners seeking premium performance wear.

Wix is Transforming E-commerce Through AI and Innovation: Insights from eTail West

As host of Talk Commerce, I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Oren Inditzky, who leads the online store business at Wix, during a special eTail West episode. Our conversation revealed fascinating insights into how Wix is revolutionizing e-commerce through AI innovation and global expansion. Here’s what we learned about the platform that now powers over three million commerce sites.

The Evolution of Wix: From DIY to Enterprise Solutions

During our discussion, Oren highlighted how Wix has evolved beyond its well-known DIY website builder roots. The company now operates under two distinct brands:

  • Traditional Wix: The user-friendly platform for individual entrepreneurs
  • Wix Studio: A sophisticated solution launched last year for agencies and complex merchants

AI Innovation: The Game-Changer in E-commerce

Generative AI Capabilities

Oren shared several impressive AI features that merchants can immediately leverage:

  • Business establishment tools (name generation, domain checking, logo creation)
  • Automated product descriptions optimized for conversion and SEO
  • AI-powered SEO recommendations
  • Professional imagery generation and pack shot creation

Machine Learning Applications

What really caught my attention was how Wix is democratizing enterprise-level features:

  • Smart product ordering systems that adapt to user behavior
  • 24/7 AI shopping assistants that can be trained on your product catalog
  • Dynamic pricing optimization
  • Inventory management automation

The Future of Store Management

One of the most exciting revelations from our conversation was about upcoming features. Oren shared that soon, merchants will be able to:

  • Manage their entire store through voice commands or chat
  • Experience AI-optimized content that automatically adjusts based on performance
  • Utilize merged machine learning and GenAI capabilities for enhanced store optimization

Breaking Down Global Barriers

Perhaps the most compelling announcement was Wix’s partnership with Globally, enabling truly borderless e-commerce. As Oren emphasized, merchants can now:

  • Expand to new markets with a simple click
  • Handle international taxes and fulfillment automatically
  • Manage translations and currency conversions seamlessly
  • Customize products and pricing for different regions

My Take as a Commerce Expert

Having hosted numerous conversations about e-commerce platforms, what stands out about Wix’s approach is their focus on democratizing enterprise-level features. The no-code checkout customization and open API architecture are particularly impressive, as they allow merchants of any size to create sophisticated shopping experiences without technical expertise.

Looking Ahead

The future of e-commerce through Wix’s lens looks incredibly promising. With their commitment to quality, continued AI innovation, and focus on no-code solutions, they’re positioning themselves as a serious contender in the e-commerce platform space.

Want to hear more insights from Oren and learn about Wix’s latest innovations? Listen to the full episode of Talk Commerce for an in-depth discussion about the future of e-commerce and how Wix is shaping it.

Learn about what Wix is doing with their Donations Platform

Resulticks SHOP Platform Bridges Digital-Physical Retail Divide with AI-Powered Innovation

Resulticks introduces SHOP, an AI-powered platform that unifies physical and digital retail experiences, enabling personalized customer engagement and improved attribution across all shopping channels.

Constructor Revolutionizes Retail Media with AI-Powered Sponsored Listings Platform

Constructor unveils its innovative Retail Media Suite, featuring AI-powered Sponsored Listings that revolutionize how retailers deliver personalized advertising experiences while maximizing revenue potential.

AI in Marketing: Finding the Balance Between Automation and Human Connection

In this enlightening episode of Talk Commerce, I sat down with sisters Kelly Evans and Courtney Hurley, who shared their expert insights on the evolving role of AI in marketing and the critical importance of maintaining human connection in business. Their unique approach to combining technological efficiency with authentic human interaction offers valuable lessons for businesses of all sizes.

The True Value of AI in Marketing Automation

One of the most striking insights from our conversation was how businesses often misuse AI tools. As Kelly pointed out, while many companies focus on using AI for content generation, its real power lies in backend operations and data analysis. “Use AI as your intelligence tool, which is what it’s supposed to be doing – not artificial content creation,” Kelly emphasized.

Courtney shared a compelling example of how proper AI implementation increased one client’s ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) by 850% over a year – and this was for a company spending $2 million annually on Google Ads alone. The key wasn’t just in deploying AI, but in using it strategically to analyze and optimize lead scoring data.

The Human Element: A Competitive Advantage

Perhaps the most powerful insight from our discussion was about the growing importance of human interaction in business. Courtney revealed how their simple shift from automated marketing emails to personalized communications resulted in dramatic improvements:

  • Open rates increased from 23% to 58%
  • Click-through rates jumped from 0.5% to 27%

“People are starting to crave more and more of that human connection,” Courtney noted, highlighting how this desire for authentic interaction is becoming a key differentiator in the marketplace.

Smart Tool Integration: Less is More

One of the most practical takeaways from our conversation was Kelly’s “three-tool rule.” She advises businesses to:

  1. Maintain one central database system
  2. Focus on a single primary marketing channel
  3. Add only one additional tool specific to your business needs

As your host, I’ve seen countless businesses struggle with tool overload, and this streamlined approach makes perfect sense for maintaining efficiency while reducing costs and complexity.

The Future of Marketing: Balancing AI and Human Touch

Looking ahead, both Kelly and Courtney emphasized that successful businesses will be those that effectively combine AI’s analytical power with meaningful human interactions. They’re seeing a shift away from fully automated systems toward solutions that facilitate real human connections while using AI to handle backend processes efficiently.

In my years of hosting Talk Commerce, this conversation stands out for its practical insights into how businesses can harness AI’s power while maintaining their human essence. As Kelly aptly put it, “Marketing needs to do its job and then inform you effectively and not become your job.”

Want to learn more about balancing AI and human elements in your marketing strategy? Listen to the full episode with Kelly and Courtney, and visit MarketLikeACMO.com to connect with these insightful marketing experts.

The world of ecommerce and marketing continues to evolve, but one thing remains constant: the need for authentic human connection. As we navigate these changes together, let’s remember that technology should enhance, not replace, the human element in business.

Find more episodes about marketing strategy here.

True Classic Combines AI Innovation with the Human Touch in Customer Experience

In this engaging episode of Talk Commerce, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jordan Gesky, Senior Customer Experience Manager at True Classic. With her extensive experience overseeing customer service operations and the entire customer journey, Jordan offered valuable insights into how this growing men’s apparel brand is embracing technology while maintaining authentic customer connections.

The Evolution of Customer Experience in E-commerce

Jordan shared how True Classic has transformed their post-purchase journey into a revenue-generating opportunity. Through their partnership with Parcel Labs, they’ve created customized landing pages that showcase new products and membership benefits to customers tracking their orders. It’s a smart approach that turns a routine tracking check into a potential sales opportunity.

Embracing AI While Maintaining the Human Element

One of the most fascinating aspects of our discussion was True Classic’s approach to AI integration. As Jordan pointed out, AI isn’t about replacing human agents but rather enhancing their capabilities. Their chatbot, cleverly named “Crew” (a play on crew neck t-shirts), handles basic queries while allowing human agents to focus on more complex customer needs.

True Classic’s Growth Journey and Future Vision

Having been one of the first ten employees at True Classic, Jordan offered a unique perspective on the company’s growth. What started as a focused men’s apparel brand has now expanded to multiple retail locations across Chicago, Arizona, and Florida. The brand is eyeing expansion into women’s and children’s wear, driven by consistent customer demand.

Multichannel Presence and Future Opportunities

True Classic has established a strong presence across various channels, including:

  • Physical retail stores in major cities
  • Online presence through their website
  • Partnerships with major retailers like Target
  • Sam’s Club and Walmart online presence
  • Upcoming expansion into TikTok Shop for 2025

Wrapping Up

As we wrapped up our conversation, it became clear that True Classic’s success stems from their ability to balance technological innovation with genuine customer connection. Jordan’s insights demonstrate how modern e-commerce brands can leverage AI while maintaining the personal touch that customers value.

Want to hear more about True Classic’s journey and Jordan’s insights? Listen to the full episode of Talk Commerce for more detailed discussions about e-commerce innovation and customer experience strategies.

Find more episodes about customer experience here

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