online retail

Pano Anthos

Live from Shoptalk: Navigating the Future of Commerce Through Agentic AI with Pano Anthos

Retail is experiencing seismic shifts, and businesses that don’t adapt risk becoming irrelevant overnight. In this compelling episode of Talk Commerce, recorded live from Shop Talk Fall in Chicago, host Isaac Morey sits down with Pano Anthos, founding member of XRC Ventures, to explore how agentic AI is reshaping consumer behavior and business operations. Their conversation reveals why traditional e-commerce strategies won’t survive the next wave of technological disruption.

About Pano Anthos

Pano serves as a founding member of XRC Ventures, an investment firm operating at the intersection of consumer behavior and technology. His expertise spans venture capital, retail innovation, and emerging technology trends that impact how businesses connect with customers. Pano’s investment philosophy centers on understanding consumer adoption patterns to predict corporate technology trends. He’s particularly focused on agentic AI applications across supply chain management, customer support, and e-commerce optimization. His insights come from years of observing how consumers embrace new technologies before enterprises catch up. Throughout his career, Pano has maintained that studying consumer behavior provides the clearest roadmap for understanding where business technology is headed next.

Episode Summary

Pano explains why XRC Ventures focuses on consumer behavior as a predictor of technological advancement. “Consumers are responsible for two trillion in spend and a massive portion of our GDP,” he explains. “They tend to be relatively much faster early adopters of technology than corporations.” This philosophy drives their investment strategy and provides unique insights into market direction.

When discussing agentic AI, Pano breaks down the concept into four essential components: autonomous planning, adaptive reasoning, tool integration, and goal orientation. “AI to figure out the rules. You have to really lay out the rules first,” he emphasizes. “That’s the misconception of autonomous AI is that it will make decisions within boundaries. But you have to set those boundaries or you get nothing.”

The conversation takes a practical turn as Pano shares examples of agentic AI in action. He describes an investment opportunity involving supply chain automation where AI intercepts and processes manufacturer communications. “There’s a very set of manual tasks today,” he explains. “This team out of Israel has figured out how to automate using an LLM to basically take all those messages they’re going back and forth and make decisions based on the rules that have been set by the organization.”

For small e-commerce businesses, Pano delivers stark advice about the changing landscape. “Your website is toast,” he warns. “Unless you are a fashion-oriented product where discovery is important and inspiration is important and it’s truly discretionary, the chat engines are going to take over.” He demonstrates this point using Perplexity Shopping, showing how consumers can research, compare, and purchase products without ever visiting a brand’s website.

The discussion reveals how AI-powered shopping platforms threaten traditional cross-selling strategies. “You are, you know, for that transaction, yes. To build some brand awareness, maybe. Cross-sell, absolutely not,” Pano states. This fundamental shift forces businesses to reconsider their entire customer acquisition and retention strategies.

Pano’s advice for content teams reflects the urgency of this transition: “Start using the engines and asking all the questions that any consumer and they give you all the questions that consumers can ask and go figure out whether you’re in the top three or top one or top two.” He stresses the importance of understanding where brands rank in AI responses and working backward to improve visibility in source content.

The conversation concludes with predictions about Google’s future. “The judges in the trial that just came out last week or two weeks ago, it’s pretty obvious that the judge knows that what we all know is Google search in the traditional SEO, SEM world, it’s over,” Pano observes. He compares Google’s potential fate to previous tech giants, noting how quickly market leaders can become irrelevant when disrupted by superior technology.

Key Takeaways

• Consumer adoption drives innovation: Consumers spend two trillion dollars annually and adopt technology faster than corporations, making them the ultimate predictor of future trends
• Process documentation is crucial: Successful AI implementation requires clearly defined rules and boundaries before automation can begin
• Reddit has become the new SEO: Chat engines prioritize Reddit content over traditional website reviews, fundamentally changing how brands build credibility
• Website traffic will decline dramatically: Hard goods businesses face inevitable traffic drops as consumers turn to AI-powered shopping experiences
• Transparency is the new currency: AI engines expose product quality issues that brands previously could hide through marketing
• Google’s dominance faces serious threats: Traditional search is being replaced by conversational AI interfaces that provide instant, comprehensive answers

Final Thoughts

The retail revolution isn’t coming—it’s already here, reshaping how consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. Pano Anthos delivers a clear message: businesses must abandon traditional web-centric strategies and embrace AI-powered commerce platforms or risk obsolescence. The winners won’t be those with the prettiest websites but those who understand how to position themselves effectively within AI-driven discovery systems. As we navigate this transformation, one question remains: will your business become an agent of change or merely another victim of technological disruption?

Connect with XRC Ventures:

https://xrcventures.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/xrcventures
https://www.instagram.com/xrcventures

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Ben Sharf

Platter CEO, Ben Sharf, Reveals Their Approach to Shopify Store Management

In this insightful episode of Talk Commerce, host Brent Peterson sits down with Ben Sharf, CEO and co-founder of Platter, to explore how their innovative approach is reshaping the Shopify ecosystem. Ben dives deep into the challenges facing modern e-commerce brands and presents a compelling solution for streamlining operations while boosting profitability.

Key Takeaways

  • Consolidation of multiple Shopify apps into one comprehensive solution
  • Significant cost savings through reduced technical complexity
  • Focus on operational efficiency and increased profitability
  • Importance of questioning established e-commerce practices
  • Strategic approach to storefront management for scaling businesses

About Ben Sharf

Ben Sharf brings a unique perspective to e-commerce, combining his experience as a Division I ice hockey player at Colgate University with his entrepreneurial vision. Before founding Platter, he worked at GoPuff, where he developed instant delivery solutions for e-commerce websites. This experience led him to identify critical gaps in the Shopify ecosystem, ultimately inspiring the creation of Platter. His background in athletics has shaped his leadership style, emphasizing both physical and mental challenges in business growth.

The conversation begins with Ben sharing Platter’s origin story, born from his observations while working at GoPuff. He noticed that even successful brands generating $50 million+ in revenue struggled with website management and optimization. This insight led to the development of Platter’s unified solution.

Platter’s approach differs significantly from traditional methods. Instead of relying on numerous individual apps or expensive custom development, they’ve created a comprehensive suite that includes both a Shopify theme and app. This solution particularly benefits mid-market brands dealing with complex catalogs and medium-priced items.

A striking example of Platter’s impact comes from their work with Wild Earth, where they achieved $720,000 in annual operating expense reductions by transitioning the brand from a headless storefront to their integrated solution.

Personal Commentary and Analysis

The episode reveals a crucial shift in e-commerce technology strategy. While the Shopify ecosystem’s flexibility has been a strength, it’s also created a complex web of dependencies that can hinder growth. Platter’s approach of consolidating essential features into a unified platform represents a mature evolution in e-commerce infrastructure.

Memorable Quotes

“You don’t need to pay $6 a month for a color swatch app. That should just be a feature that’s built into the theme.” – Ben Sharf

“Less is more in a lot of instances… why is it this complicated? It doesn’t need to be.” – Ben Sharf

Engaging the Audience

For e-commerce brands interested in optimizing their operations, Platter offers pro bono audits of conversion funnels. This presents an excellent opportunity for businesses to receive expert insights into their current setup and potential improvements.

Final Thoughts

The future of e-commerce lies not in accumulating more tools but in intelligent consolidation and efficiency. As we move into 2025, brands must embrace technological innovations while questioning established practices to maintain competitive advantages.

Listen to more conversations about the latest in digital innovation here

Constructor

Search Behavior Drives 44% of Ecommerce Revenue, Constructor Study Reveals

Constructor’s latest study reveals that shoppers who use search generate 44% of ecommerce revenue despite representing only 24% of visitors, highlighting the critical importance of optimized search functionality in online retail

Carolyn Lowe

Strategic Insights from ROI Swift’s CEO Carolyn Lowe for Mastering the Amazon Marketplace

In this episode of Talk Commerce, host Brent Peterson engaged in an enlightening conversation with Carolyn Lowe, CEO and founder of ROI Swift, about maximizing success on Amazon’s marketplace. The discussion revealed crucial insights for brands considering Amazon as a sales channel, along with practical strategies for optimizing their presence on the platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Brands should conduct thorough P&L analysis before entering Amazon
  • Products priced under $15 rarely generate profit after Amazon fees
  • 60-70% of Amazon searches are non-branded
  • Video content is increasingly important for product listings
  • FBA can increase conversion rates by 30-80%
  • Proper product page optimization should precede advertising efforts

About Carolyn Lowe

Carolyn Lowe’s journey to becoming an Amazon expert began at Dell Computer, where she worked in consumer marketing for six years. Her transition to entrepreneurship came through her experience helping a mom and baby company grow from a modest $10,000 monthly Amazon revenue to an impressive $400,000-$500,000. In 2015, she founded ROI Swift with the ambitious goal of helping 500 brands achieve profitable growth.

Detailed Episode Summary

The conversation began with Carolyn sharing her background in e-commerce, dating back 25 years when she moved from Boston to Austin for a role at Dell. Her expertise in digital marketing evolved through various positions, ultimately leading to the foundation of ROI Swift.

On the topic of Amazon presence, Carolyn emphasized the importance of strategic decision-making. She outlined specific scenarios where brands should consider Amazon:

“If you’re in retail or you’re sold through retail partners or other online partners, you’re going to end up on Amazon anyway, so you might as well make it the best experience,” Carolyn advised. However, she cautioned that brands with exclusive direct-to-consumer models might want to maintain their independence.

Regarding product pricing, Lowe shared crucial insights about margin considerations. She explained that successful Amazon products typically require:

  • 60-80% gross margins
  • Ability to absorb 15% Amazon fees
  • Additional 10% for shipping costs
  • 10-15% advertising budget

The discussion turned to product optimization, where Carolyn stressed the importance of proper page setup before advertising: “Don’t spend any more money on ads until you’ve got the best product page,” she emphasized, noting that conversion rates below 10-15% indicate need for improvement.

Personal Commentary and Analysis

The podcast reveals the complexity of Amazon marketplace success, highlighting how proper preparation and strategy are crucial for brands entering the platform. Carolyn’s emphasis on data-driven decision-making and thorough economic analysis before Amazon entry demonstrates the platform’s evolution from a simple marketplace to a sophisticated e-commerce ecosystem requiring expert navigation.

Memorable Quotes

“Amazon is the devil we know.” – Carolyn Lowe, discussing the predictability of Amazon compared to other platforms

“If your product needs a lot of education and it’s a disruptor, it will be difficult on Amazon.” – Carolyn Lowe, on product-market fit

“You don’t want to send good traffic to a bad web page.” – Carolyn Lowe, emphasizing the importance of product page optimization

Engaging the Audience

To learn more about optimizing your brand’s Amazon presence, connect with Carolyn Lowe on LinkedIn or visit ROI Swift’s website at roiswift.com. The full episode offers additional insights and practical tips for brands considering or currently selling on Amazon.

Final Thoughts

Amazon marketplace continues to evolve, requiring brands to maintain agility and strategic focus. Success on the platform demands more than just listing products – it requires careful planning, proper pricing strategy, and ongoing optimization efforts.

Find more conversations about optimizing for Amazon Marketplace here

FIN Studio Events: Revolutionizing E-commerce Photography in New York and Los Angeles

FIN Studio Events returns to New York and Los Angeles, offering e-commerce businesses and creative professionals a unique opportunity to experience cutting-edge photo studio technology and workflow solutions.

Talk Commerce - Jason Nyhus

[Live from ShopTalk] The Struggle of Mid-Market Merchants in E-Commerce with Jason Nyhus

Defining the Mid-Market Merchant

Jason eloquently described the mid-market merchant as a business that doesn’t quite fit into the standard SMB or enterprise categories. These merchants often have complex use cases and unique needs that aren’t easily met by one-size-fits-all solutions. As someone who has worked with numerous mid-market businesses, I can attest to the importance of finding a platform that offers the flexibility and customization required to address their specific challenges.

One of the most significant issues mid-market merchants face is the dominance of big software companies in the e-commerce space. As Jason pointed out, these companies often prioritize their own profit motives over the needs of individual merchants. The result? A homogenized e-commerce experience that lacks the differentiation and customization many mid-market brands rely on to stand out in a crowded market.

I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating it can be for merchants to feel forced into a box, unable to tailor their online presence to their unique brand identity. This is where open-source platforms like Shopware shine, offering the freedom and flexibility to create truly distinctive e-commerce experiences.

The Importance of Adaptability and Customization

As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, adaptability has become a crucial factor in the success of mid-market merchants. Jason emphasized the significance of choosing a platform that allows for easy customization and integration with emerging technologies like AI.

In my experience, the ability to modify and own your code is a game-changer for mid-market businesses. It allows them to create tailored experiences that align with their brand and business processes, rather than being constrained by the limitations of a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution.

Final Thoughts

My conversation with Jason Nyhus at Shop Talk was an eye-opening exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing mid-market merchants in the e-commerce world. By understanding the unique needs of these businesses and embracing adaptable, customizable solutions, we can help them navigate the complexities of online retail and thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape.

If you’d like to learn more about Jason’s insights and the innovative solutions Shopware offers for mid-market merchants, be sure to check out the full podcast episode. And as always, keep the conversation going by sharing your own experiences and strategies for success in the comments below.

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
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