Podcasts

Unlocking 25 Years of eTail: A Retrospective with eTail Co-Producers Kristin Schoenstein and Liz Robillard

On a special anniversary episode of Talk Commerce, I sat down with eTail co-producers Kristin Schoenstein and Liz Robillard to unpack 25 years of the groundbreaking eTail conference. As pioneers in the e-commerce events space, Kristin and Liz gave an insider’s perspective on the evolution of email and the wider industry landscape.

The Essence of the eTail Conference Over 25 Years:


Spanning over two decades, eTail has been instrumental in nurturing the growth of ecommerce. From humble beginnings as a small gathering of 50 ecommerce professionals to hosting over 1,500 attendees yearly, eTail has scaled tremendously while retaining its identity as a tight-knit community event. As Kristin put it, “eTail feels like a family reunion each year.”

Exploring the Changing Landscape of Ecommerce Conferences:


In the early days, eTail was the only specialized conference for ecommerce professionals. But over the years, the industry has exploded with events catering to every ecommerce niche imaginable. “It’s incredible to see the diversity of conferences now focused specifically on areas like mobile commerce, marketplace selling, social commerce, and more,” Liz noted. “It represents the maturation of ecommerce.”

The Impact of Ecommerce Conferences on Online Retail:


Industry conferences like eTail have had an undeniable influence on shaping the growth trajectory of e-commerce. By fostering connections and knowledge sharing amongst peers, e-commerce conferences nurture innovation and push the envelope of what’s possible in online retail. “So many business partnerships and new technologies can trace their origins back to conversations that started at eTail,” Kristin revealed.

Questions and Reflections:


We had so many great questions about the evolution of eTail, the future of physical conferences in an increasingly digital world, and advice for first-time eTail attendees. Some key insights from Kristin and Liz:

  • The value of in-person networking will not fade, even as virtual events gain traction
  • Specialization will define the next generation of successful conferences
  • First-timer advice: “Be open-minded, talk to everyone, and follow up.”

Unlocking 25 More Years of Community Commerce:


After 25 years of bringing together the brightest minds in ecommerce, the future looks bright for the eTail conference. Come ready to connect, learn, and unlock the next era of community commerce this year at eTail!

Talk-Commerce-Niklas Halusa

The Ins and Outs of Constructing an Online Marketplace That Sells with Niklas Halusa

Launching an online marketplace can be an exciting yet daunting endeavor. From software selection to attracting buyers and sellers, many complex factors require thoughtful consideration. So where does an aspiring marketplace founder even start?

Look no further than episode # of the acclaimed Talk Commerce podcast, featuring an exclusive interview with Niklas Halusa. As CEO of Nautical Commerce, Niklas brings deep expertise in all facets of building and scaling online marketplaces.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Niklas pulls back the curtain on critical marketplace success factors. From concrete startup steps to long-term strategic thinking, his penetrating insights deliver immense value for newcomers and veterans alike.

Key Takeaways on Marketplace Creation:

  • Clearly differentiate a marketplace from other ecommerce models
  • Identify the ideal customer profile for your niche
  • Consider marketplace software over custom builds
  • Focus on delivering an exceptional user experience
  • Plan for future consolidation and competition
  • Curate your vendor mix for diversity and quality

With over a decade steering young marketplace startups, Niklas speaks from experience. After pivoting his career from finance to hands-on operations, he witnessed firsthand the headaches of building marketplaces. This revelation sparked his mission – to empower passionate founders to focus on their creative business-building, not software woes.

Let’s delve into Niklas’ most indispensable marketplace advice.

About Niklas Halusa, Marketplace Maestro

As CEO of Nautical Commerce, Niklas leads strategy and vision for this bustling Toronto startup. Their fully integrated platform allows entrepreneurs to launch and scale multi-vendor marketplaces at speed.

Niklas’ passion for marketplaces sparked early while sourcing investment opportunities. But he grew frustrated at the software bottlenecks hampering so many founders. After spearheading operations for various startups, Niklas knew there had to be a better way.

So he co-founded Nautical to give business builders access to enterprise-grade marketplace tech. By handling all the complex backend infrastructure, Niklas and his team enable founders to focus on what matters most – crafting a stellar user experience.

With Nautical now powering marketplaces of all sizes, Niklas draws from a deep well of hands-on knowledge.

Decoding the Marketplace Landscape

Brent Peterson, founder of Talk Commerce, opens the podcast by asking Niklas to define an online marketplace. As Niklas explains:

“Marketplace is…the exercise of building a store, a platform, a piece of real estate.”

He points to historical market squares where artisans and traders would gather to buy and sell wares. Online marketplaces create similar digital trading posts, connecting groups of buyers and third-party sellers.

Crucially, the marketplace itself holds no inventory. Instead, independent vendors handle product listings, fulfillment, and more. The platforms focus on providing tools, services and exposure to sellers. And an engaging, trustworthy experience for buyers.

Niklas contrasts this to other ecommerce models like traditional retailers, brands, and dropshipping arrangements. Retailers buy and resell goods to earn a markup. Brands sell products they manufacture directly to consumers.

Dropshippers contract with third-party vendors but drive more product curation. Marketplaces forge less involved relationships with their sellers, enabling far greater scale and diversity.

When should entrepreneurs consider building a marketplace? Niklas advises those with proven buyer demand struggling to meet it alone. Established retailers can also future-proof against marketplace disruption by expanding their vendor base.

But brands selling proprietary products don’t necessarily require a marketplace model. Their priority is moving their own products, rather than facilitating transactions between third parties.

Evaluating Marketplace Software Solutions

Brent then inquires about the differences between building vs joining a marketplace platform. As Niklas bluntly states:

“You should really think very, very hard about owning code…owning software is the business equivalent of doing your own plumbing or electrics.”

He points to the success of Shopify empowering ecommerce entrepreneurs to skip technology headaches. Aspiring marketplace builders need similar solutions tailored to the multi-vendor model.

But Niklas acknowledges the current landscape remains fragmented. He expects more sophisticated software packages to emerge, alongside more consolidation. Nautical Commerce aims to lead the way in providing an integrated backend built for scalability.

According to Niklas, this infrastructure layer must “just work” reliably behind the scenes. This frees business owners to focus on crafting exceptional user experiences. And those thoughtful, personalized touches will win in an increasingly crowded marketplace ecosystem.

Attracting, Engaging, and Retaining Buyers

With more entrepreneurs entering the marketplace gold rush, competition heats up. So how can newcomers stand apart?

Niklas strongly advocates finding an underserved niche and deeply understanding associated customer pain points. Rather than chasing the Amazons, he sees bigger opportunities in specialized marketplaces offering targeted solutions.

He highlights niche examples like StockX for sneakerheads or Tall Size for tall women’s fashion. By intently focusing on distinctive buyer needs, the customer experience far outpaces general marketplaces. Highly tailored product assortments and functionality also build fierce loyalty and retention.

So niche players shouldn’t fear the giants. Even offline, specialized retailers like Bass Pro Shops flourish by dominating their turf. Online marketplaces can thrive in carefully cultivated niches once considered too small.

But they must first build a rich understanding of their target customer. With buyers spoiled for choice, only ultra-relevant personalization cuts through the noise.

Curating a Marketplace’s Seller Mix

Cultivating the ideal vendor mix also proves vital for sustaining marketplace prosperity. Rather than chasing breadth alone, Niklas advocates for careful curation.

He notes how the first online marketplaces succeeded by aggregating previously hard-to-find products. But in flooded segments like cheap phone cases, the novelty wears thin. Buyers now demand quality, uniqueness and an element of discovery from their marketplaces.

So while marquee name brands attract eyeballs, they shouldn’t dominate. Diverse products from niche sellers keep buyers engaged across more browsing sessions. Curation prevents individual vendors from commandeering too much power over the platform too.

Marketplaces must strike a delicate balance between seller choice and experience quality control. But resists the temptation to over-optimize for scale alone. As Niklas concludes, “increasingly these places will become more curated, more bespoke, more localized.”

Final Thoughts on Building Marketplaces

Crafting an exceptional user experience emerges as the predominant theme from Niklas Halusa. For marketplaces to thrive in the digital economy, they must intimately understand and cater to their constituent buyers and sellers.

Rather than workflow and operational efficiencies, obsessive customer-centricity now separates the best from the rest. As Niklas concludes, “find an underserved or specialist niche that they think they can understand far better than anybody else.”

This deep empathy begets tailored functionality, personalized recommendations, niche assortments, and responsive support. Marketplaces must create a seamless experience matching buyers and sellers of related products easily.

But Niklas insists the software foundations enabling rich user experiences matter just as much. Aspiring marketplace entrepreneurs should focus less on technology, not more. SaaS solutions like Nautical Commerce now empower any founder to launch quickly without software burdens.

So if you feel equipped to identify and serve a niche audience, now is the time to bring your marketplace idea to life. The barriers to entry continue lowering while funding and support keep growing. And as Niklas predicts, “the rate of new marketplaces or marketplace business models is going to explode in the next three to five years.”

Will your marketplace idea lead this next wave of digital commerce innovation?

To hear more invaluable insights from marketplace maestro Niklas Halusa, be sure to check out [episode #] of Talk Commerce today. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Now over to you – what stuck out most from Niklas’ marketplace advice? Which niche might you explore for your own potential marketplace? Join the conversation below!

Tags: online marketplace, marketplace software, niche marketplace, marketplace platform, marketplace tips, build a marketplace

Talk-Commerce Akeneo Kristin Naragon

Transforming Retail through Product Experience with Kristin Naragon

The future of retail lies in delivering exceptional product experiences. That’s the key message from digital commerce expert Kristin Naragon in this insightful episode of Talk Commerce. As Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Akeneo, Naragon has seen firsthand how centralizing product data and incorporating AI is revolutionizing online shopping.

Key Takeaways:

  • Implementing a product information management (PIM) solution led to a 36% sales increase for Rural King and 15 minute time-to-market for Staples Canada.
  • 61% of retailers are adopting augmented reality, with some seeing conversion rates double for AR-enabled products.
  • AI can be transformative but needs human validation – incorrect product details could be dangerous.
  • A comprehensive product experience strategy requires buy-in across the c-suite, not just marketing.

About Kristin Naragon

With nearly 20 years in tech marketing, including senior roles at Akeneo and Adobe, Kristin brings a wealth of go-to-market strategy experience. As a customer-obsessed, outcomes-focused leader, she’s passionate about developing partnerships and solutions that drive business success. At Akeneo, that means delivering product experience innovation that transforms retail.

Exploring Centralized Data and AI for Next-Gen Shopping

Kristin traces the genesis of Akeneo back to a frustrating shopping experience – her husband struggling to find compatible AV equipment across various retailer sites. The problem? Inconsistent and conflicting product information stemming from decentralized data. As Kristin explains, “You can control the product information. Having that core record, categorized, cataloged, complete, enriched…that’s what Akeneo uniquely solves.”

That product record lies at the heart of Akeneo’s product experience cloud. By centralizing all product data into a PIM, retailers can distribute accurate, up-to-date listings to every touchpoint – web, mobile, print, and more. The result, as evidenced by Rural King and Staples Canada, is operational efficiency, reduced time to market, and revenue growth. “It touches every part of the business,” Naragon states.

And that was just the beginning. The launch of Akeneo’s in-platform app store unlocked innovation opportunities through 3rd party AI integrations. As Kristin explains, “We had about a dozen applications developed leveraging AI to help different parts of the product experience management process.” From onboarding data to generating descriptions and translating content, AI is transforming PIM capabilities.

Ultimately, Akeneo’s acquisition of AI startup Unifi was fueled by demand for enhanced data enrichment. But Kristin cautions AI requires oversight. “Bad product information generated from these AI models can really serve the business in a bad way,” she warns, sharing examples of incorrect phone storage stats and dangerously mixed chemical data. The solution lies in Akeneo’s workflows – “introducing a checking system with employees, humans.”

The Future of Retail Will Be Experiential

As the podcast wraps up, Kristin points to AI, AR, and the blockchain as technologies that will converge to enhance shopping dramatically. But the biggest shift must start internally. “Making product experience strategy a C-suite initiative – that’s something we’re going to be focused on,” she predicts. Because as omnichannel retail blurs lines, the brands offering the most contextual, consistent and helpful product experiences will win consumer loyalty.

In closing, Kristin perfectly captures the ethos of our digital era: “It seems so obvious, I guess. And sometimes the things that seem so obvious are often overlooked.”

Memorable Quotes

“You can control the product information. Having that core record, categorized, cataloged, complete, enriched…that’s what Akeneo uniquely solves.”

Here Kristin eloquently sums up the universal product data dilemma facing retailers – and how a properly structured PIM solves it through centralization.

“Bad product information generated from these AI models can really serve the business in a bad way.”

A stark reminder that while AI delivers efficiency, its capability to propagate nonsense means implementing guardrails is crucial.

“Making product experience strategy a C-suite initiative – that’s something we’re going to be focused on.”

This prediction underscores Kristin’s belief that optimizing product content across channels needs to become a boardroom priority to drive sales.

Tune In and Join the Product Experience Revolution

If mindset shifts, emerging technologies and real-world use cases have you rethinking your ecommerce content strategy, be sure to check out the full episode. Subscribe to Talk Commerce so you don’t miss future conversations at the intersection of commerce and digital disruption.

At its core, this podcast highlights that product experiences represent the new competitive battleground. As consumers increasingly demand personalized, contextual, and helpful shopping journeys, retailers must transform product content from a cost center into a revenue driver. The brands that invest in product experience now will shape the future of retail.

Talk-Commerce Matthias Schreiber

Navigating Challenges and Embracing Collaboration: Insights from Matthias Schreiber

Join the insightful journey with Matthias Schreiber on “Talk Commerce” as we delve into the open source ecosystem, Magento’s evolution, and the collaborative future of e-commerce.

Irwin Hau discussing the magic of marketing on Talk Commerce

The Intersection of Magic and Marketing: A Conversation with Irwin Hau

The Art of Nurturing and Educating Customers

As the host of “Talk Commerce,” I’ve had the pleasure of engaging with some of the most innovative minds in the industry. In a recent episode, I sat down with Irwin Hau, the founder of Chromatics and a magician, who brought a unique perspective to the table. Today, I want to share the fascinating conversation we had about the intersection of magic and marketing and how this blend can transform how we approach sales, customer education, and website optimization.

The Pitfalls of Sleazy Sales Tactics

During our discussion, Irwin and I delved into the negative stereotype of the sleazy salesperson. We agreed that authenticity and focusing on one’s strengths are crucial in providing exceptional service. Irwin’s advice? Refer business to specialists when necessary to ensure the best service for your clients. It’s about building trust and long-term relationships, not just making a quick sale.

Website Optimization and Customer-Centric Marketing Strategies

Irwin’s concept of “website whispering” is about quickly identifying and resolving website issues to improve conversion rates. He stressed the importance of customer-focused marketing and website design, prioritizing the needs and benefits of the customer over self-promotion.

Balancing Creativity with Functionality

A key takeaway from our conversation was the balance between creativity and functionality in website design. Irwin emphasized purpose-driven design, which should always serve the customer’s needs rather than the subjective creativity of the designer.

Practical Advice for Businesses

Irwin’s practical advice for businesses is to focus on the basics of website design. Ensure that your website clearly answers the key questions: Who are you? What do you offer? How can you be contacted? He reminded us that a website is a powerful sales tool and should prioritize customer-centric design and clear communication.

Connect with Irwin Hau

Irwin generously shared his contact information and promoted his companies, Chromatics and Conversion Cow. He invited listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn and explore the services offered by his businesses.

Enhancing Online Presence and Customer Engagement

Irwin Hau’s insights are a treasure trove for businesses aiming to boost their online presence and customer engagement. By applying the principles of magic to marketing—focusing on nurturing, educating, and genuinely caring for customers—we can create a more effective and enchanting customer experience.

Talk-Commerce Andrew Buehler

Smoke, Sizzle, and Success: Andrew Buehler’s Recipe for Building Urban Smokehouse

From Private Equity to Pitmaster: The Urban Smokehouse Story

The Birth of a Barbecue Brand

Hello, fellow food enthusiasts and entrepreneurial spirits! I’m Brent Peterson, your host at “Talk Commerce,” where we dive into the stories behind successful businesses and the passionate individuals who drive them. Today, I’m thrilled to share with you a remarkable journey from the financial world to the flavorful realm of barbecue. Join me as we explore the entrepreneurial path of Andrew Buehler, CEO of Urban Smokehouse, and the strategic decisions that have shaped his venture into a sizzling success.

The Spark That Ignited a Barbecue Revolution

Andrew Buehler’s story is one of passion pivoting into profession. As a former competitive swimmer with a zest for water sports, Andrew’s love for food and cooking always simmered in the background. But it wasn’t until the world was gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic that he took a deep dive into self-reflection and decided to leave his career in private equity to pursue his true calling—barbecue.

Urban Smokehouse emerged as a bootstrapped, 100% self-funded venture, aiming to deliver the authentic experience of low and slow barbecue to doorsteps across the nation. Andrew’s vision was clear: provide high-quality, precooked barbecue foods that are vacuum-sealed and shipped on dry ice, making it effortless for customers to enjoy without the need for a smoker or hours of preparation.

Overcoming the Heat: Challenges and Triumphs

Building Urban Smokehouse was no walk in the park. Andrew faced the daunting task of crowdfunding, a strategic move to gauge market fit and generate interest without significant upfront costs. He candidly shared the differences between pitching to institutional investors and crowdfunding backers, emphasizing the product’s appeal and market fit as crucial in the latter.

Shipping perishable products presented another set of challenges. Andrew tackled these head-on, using dry ice and meticulously planning logistics to ensure products reached customers in perfect condition, regardless of location or climate.

Leveraging Strengths and Expert Partnerships

Andrew’s mantra for scaling Urban Smokehouse effectively was to focus on his strengths and outsource other areas to experts. By partnering with a top-notch distribution center in Wisconsin, he could concentrate on what he does best—creating mouthwatering barbecue—while leaving tasks like pick and pack to those with the right expertise.

A Vision for Growth and Differentiation

Urban Smokehouse isn’t just about the meats; it’s about creating a full barbecue experience. Andrew’s vision includes expanding the product line to include various proteins, sides, barbecue sauces, and even venturing into retail and corporate gifting channels. He understands the importance of building a brand directly with the end customer and has strategically focused on direct-to-consumer sales before branching out.

In a market teeming with competition, Urban Smokehouse stands out by prioritizing quality and employing savvy marketing tactics. Andrew emphasizes customer acquisition and advocacy, using strategies like free samples, referral programs, and rewards to build a loyal customer base.

Setting the Table for Success

Andrew’s goals are as ambitious as they are clear: reach 5 to 10 million in annual revenue within the next 12 to 18 months. He approaches product expansion with caution, relying on sales volume and customer feedback to guide new additions. Quality, health accolades, and customer satisfaction remain at the forefront of Urban Smokehouse’s growth strategy.

Join the Barbecue Movement

As we wrapped up our conversation, Andrew extended an invitation to all listeners to visit Urban Smokehouse’s website and social media platforms. There, you can explore their delicious offerings and follow the brand’s journey.

Final Thoughts

My talk with Andrew Buehler was more than just a peek into the barbecue business; it was a masterclass in strategic entrepreneurship. His story is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and the importance of making calculated, customer-focused decisions in business.

Thank you for joining me on this flavorful adventure. Until next time, keep the fires of your passions burning and the wheels of commerce turning!

Talk-Commerce-Morgan Gist MacDonald

Lucrative Launch Pad: Converting Readers into Revenue with Morgan Gist MacDonald

In this episode, Brent interviews Morgan Gist MacDonald, the CEO and founder of Paper Raven Books, about the importance of writing a book for entrepreneurs. They discuss the process of writing a book, including identifying the scope and topic and navigating the book funnel. Morgan emphasizes the need to consider the reader’s perspective and the relevance and timeliness of the book. She also shares insights on monetizing a book and the different types of nonfiction books. The conversation concludes with a discussion on getting reviews for a book and the services offered by Paper Raven Books.

Takeaways

  • Writing a book can position entrepreneurs as experts and provide credibility in their field.
  • The process of writing a book helps authors discover new angles and nuances to their frameworks and stories.
  • A book funnel is a marketing strategy that includes offering bonuses and upsells to readers.
  • Authors can monetize their books through backend products and services.
  • It is important to consider the reader’s perspective and the relevance and timeliness of the book.
  • Different types of nonfiction books, such as how-to guides and inspirational stories, can work for different business models.
  • Building an email list and getting reviews are important for book marketing.
  • Paper Raven Books offers services for authors at different stages of the book-writing process.
  • Authors can choose different formats for their books, including ebook, paperback, hardback, and audiobook.
  • Writing multiple books can create more income streams and increase an author’s visibility.
  • Authors should focus on solving a specific problem or providing a specific outcome for readers.
  • Using keywords and categories on Amazon can help increase the visibility of a book.
  • Turning blog posts into a book requires organizing the content and ensuring a cohesive narrative.
  • Authors should consider their goals and the specific outcome they want to achieve with their book.

More podcasts about what entrepreneurs are doing in their fields.

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Background

02:26The Importance of Writing a Book for Entrepreneurs

04:32Navigating the Book Writing Process

05:30Identifying the Scope of the Book

07:26Choosing a Relevant and Timely Topic

10:15Considering Different Types of Nonfiction Books

14:47Understanding the Book Funnel

19:53Building a Book Funnel

23:38Monetizing a Book

25:13Making Money from Books

27:04Different Types of Nonfiction Books

30:25Types of Clients at Paper Raven Books

32:18Getting Reviews for a Book

36:27Working with Paper Raven Books

37:33Choosing Different Book Formats

39:54When to Write a Book

41:51Using Keywords and Categories on Amazon

44:26Turning Blog Posts into a Book

45:38Shameless Plug

Erica Guider

Harnessing the Power of Data Analytics in Retail: A Conversation with Erica Guider

In this episode of Talk Commerce, Brent and Madeleine interview Erica Guider from 42 Technologies about the importance of data analytics for retail brands. They discuss the role of data analytics in making informed decisions, the benefits of using an analytics tool versus building one in-house, and the challenges of using Google Analytics.

Erica explains how 42 Technologies helps unify data from different platforms and provides accurate and readable data for analysis. They also touch on the role of AI in data analytics and share success stories of brands that have made an impact with unified data. The episode concludes with discussing key strategies for the upcoming quarter and a shameless plug for 42 Technologies.

Introducing Erica Guider from 42 Technologies

Our episode kicked off with a warm introduction of Erica Guider, a key player in the sales team at 42 Technologies. Erica’s role involves managing accounts and ensuring that clients’ data is clean and organized on their visual dashboard. Her passion for retail is evident, and she is driven by the goal of giving people more time by streamlining their data processes.

The Importance of a Unified Data Spot

One of the main topics we discussed was the importance of having a centralized data source. Erica explained how 42 Technologies works with platforms like BigCommerce, NetSuite, and Apparel Magic to combine different data points from various channels, such as e-commerce and point of sale (POS). The aim is to clean and scrub the data to ensure accuracy and make it readable for humans. This approach overcomes the limitations of Google Analytics and provides more accurate numbers through daily snapshots of data.

The Role of AI in Data Analytics

Our conversation also touched on the potential role of AI in data analytics. Erica shared their plans to develop a chatbot that can provide quick answers to retail teams. This innovative approach is set to revolutionize the way retail businesses access and interpret their data.

The Impact of Data Analytics on Brands

Erica highlighted the impact that data analytics has made for clients like Figs, a scrubs brand. By providing real-time updates on inventory and sales, 42 Technologies has helped brands like Figs to streamline their operations and make more informed decisions.

The Importance of Granular Data Analysis

Erica emphasized the importance of analyzing data at a granular level, such as specific attributes like color, to make informed decisions about stocking items. She also discussed the negative effects of markdowns on a brand and customer expectations, highlighting the need for careful inventory management and understanding sell-through rates.

A Special Offer for Shopify Clients

As a Shopify certified plus partner, 42 Technologies is offering a free trial for Shopify clients. This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to experience the benefits of a unified data spot and make more informed decisions based on accurate, granular data.

Wrapping Up with Some Light-Hearted Moments

Our conversation wasn’t all business. We shared some light-hearted moments and jokes, including a discussion about our experiences at Costco. I concluded the segment by thanking Erica for her time, humor, and invaluable insights into the world of retail data analytics.

In conclusion, our conversation with Erica Guider highlighted the importance of data analytics in retail businesses. By harnessing the power of a unified data spot, businesses can make more informed decisions, streamline their operations, and ultimately drive their success.

Takeaways

  • Data analytics is important for businesses of all sizes to make informed decisions.
  • Using an analytics tool can save time and money compared to building one in-house.
  • Unified data from different platforms provides accurate and readable information for analysis.
  • AI tools can help with predictive analytics and answer specific questions quickly.
  • Strategies for the upcoming quarter include focusing on sell-through and right-sizing inventory.

More podcasts about commerce

Talk-Commerce Kay Collier

The Art of Letter Writing: A Conversation with Kay Collier

Hello everyone, I’m your host of Talk Commerce Today, and I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kay Collier, also known as Kathryn Hastings. Kay is an artist and the proud owner of a stationery and wax seal business, Kathryn Hastings & Company. Our conversation was filled with laughter, insights, and a shared interest in handwritten letters. Let’s dive into the details.

The Journey of Kathryn Hastings & Company

Kay’s journey into the world of stationery and wax seals is a fascinating one. She has always been a letter writer, with a deep love for historic letters and objects. Her studies in art history and studio art further fueled her passion for history and art. About a decade ago, she discovered antique seals and the rich history behind them.

During the pandemic, she decided to share her collection and thus, Kathryn Hastings & Company was born. Here, she sells handmade seals and designs her own modern seals. She believes that these objects are meant to be used and even offers a free course on using and caring for antique seals.

The Dichotomy of Being an Artist and an Entrepreneur

One of the interesting topics we discussed was the dichotomy between being an artist and an entrepreneur. Kay explained that while they are different, they can coexist. She also shared her interest in antique typewriters and how they fit into the handwritten genre. She owns a beautiful Smith Corona typewriter from the 1930s and knows a calligrapher friend who also uses a typewriter. The choice between handwriting and typewriters, she believes, depends on the individual’s personal preferences and the time period they are inspired by.

Monetizing Passion: The Journey of Kathryn Hastings & Company

Kay’s journey of monetizing her business is inspiring. She applied for an entrepreneur contest by Birchbox in 2019, and although she didn’t win, it planted the seed of starting her own business. She spent a year planning and in March 2020, she started sharing her seals and letters. The timing coincided with the pandemic, and many people were looking for a way to connect with others and have a break from technology.

Platforms for Sharing Passion

Kay uses various platforms to share her passion for letter writing and antique seals. She has an Instagram account where she shares her artwork and teaches about antique seals and letter-writing techniques. She also has a weekly podcast that explores interesting historical topics through the lens of letters. Additionally, Kay has a newsletter called “The Epistolary” that delves into contemplative ideas on living a more connected life.

The Importance of Handwriting

Our conversation also touched on the importance of handwriting. Kay emphasized the uniqueness and personal expression that handwriting represents, encouraging people to embrace their own style. She also mentioned the importance of cursive writing for brain development and suggested that handwriting can be a relaxing and mindful practice.

The Role of AI in Letter Writing

We also discussed the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in letter writing. Kay believes that while AI can make us more efficient and thoughtful, it’s important to know when to use the tool and when not to. She advises considering the recipient’s preferences and what you want to share with them when using AI for letter writing.

The Personal Touch of Handwritten Letters

In closing, Kay encouraged listeners to subscribe to her newsletter for practical letter writing tools and to take the time to write and send letters to deepen their relationships with others. Our conversation highlighted the benefits and limitations of using AI tools for letter writing and emphasized the personal touch and thoughtfulness of handwritten letters.

In a world where digital communication is the norm, Kay Collier reminds us of the beauty and personal touch of handwritten letters. Whether you’re an artist, an entrepreneur, or simply someone who appreciates the art of letter writing, there’s a lot to learn from Kay’s journey and insights.

More podcasts about marketing

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