🎙️ What’s the secret to building a retail media network that truly works? It starts with putting customers first. In this Unlocking Retail Media episode, Ben Johnson, Senior Director of Chewy Ads, explains why cookie-cutter strategies fall short, and how Chewy developed ad solutions as unique as their high-growth subscription model. If you’re in retail media, don’t miss the part where Ben dives into building cross-team alignment and hiring for cognitive diversity, it’s a game-changer. Let's put innovation at the forefront of retail media. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/eACQBgvR #UnlockingRetailMedia

Love these, and they just keep on coming! Check out James Avery on his latest discussion with Ben Johnson from Chewy. Learn why platform independence might not seem vital in the first 6-12 months, but it becomes the foundation for long-term success and how Chewy's subscription-based model changed the game for how they approached their ads programme.

💡 Curious about what sets successful retail media networks apart? In the latest episode of Unlocking Retail Media, James Avery chats with Ben Johnson, Senior Director of Chewy Ads, about building tailored ad solutions that align with unique customer needs, like Chewy’s subscription-based model. From fostering internal collaboration to experimenting with “good, neutral, bad” frameworks, Ben shares actionable insights retailers can use to drive both customer satisfaction and advertiser success. 🎧 An inspiring listen for anyone in retail media or ad tech! Check it out: https://lnkd.in/e5jJUcSv #UnlockingRetailMedia

From £6M to £60M! I had the pleasure of hosting Neil Sumner (Sumner For Hire) on the Abandoned Cart Podcast to unpack what separates winning brands from the "sea of sameness" drowning modern e-commerce. Neil's career spans luxury publishing, global retail, and high-growth brands like BrewDog and Hunter & Gather. Neil shared insights on why most brands are getting content fundamentally wrong... Here's what we covered: → Why theatre matters in commerce (and what brands miss when they play it safe) → The BrewDog playbook and how they grew from £6M to £60M in DTC revenue during lockdown by building loyal communities through bold, opinionated storytelling and a refusal to blend in → Digital transformation lessons from projects that failed and what they taught him → How humility and authenticity create genuine customer connection A great episode to understand what actually drives loyalty and differentiation. Thanks again for joining me Neil! 🎧 Listen now: Apple - https://lnkd.in/eMgJaiXM Spotify - https://lnkd.in/etePcaYp Connect with Neil: https://lnkd.in/ef-MkjSZ #ecommerce #brandstrategy #storytelling #DTC #retail #AbandonedCart

Retail Pricing Optimization: Engage3’s Edris Bemanian speaks with RJ Lumba Pricing is a trust product. In this episode, Edris Bemanian, CEO of Engage3, breaks down how retailers can manage price perception with the same rigor they bring to inventory or merchandising. Engage3 works across retailers, manufacturers, and consumers, collecting billions of data points to model “price image”—the specific items that anchor value in a shopper’s mind. Bemanian explains why blanket price moves can leave perception unchanged, and why targeted moves on the products that drive price image can lift loyalty while protecting margin. He also walks through trade promotions from the manufacturer side, including a stat that frames the scale: roughly $100B is spent on trade promotions in the U.S. each year, and Nielsen estimates about two-thirds don’t deliver positive ROI. He traces his own pricing “aha” back to restaurant promos, where a simple “free taco” beat the cleanest, most rational discount. He also argues that stability matters. Frequent price changes train customers to wait, question fairness, and split trips across competitors. The episode looks ahead to more personalized offers as well, where sustainability-minded shoppers and budget-focused shoppers respond to different signals. Listen on iTunes (https://lnkd.in/gDPub22Y); also available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Visit our website: https://lnkd.in/gn7aUbui Sign up for our free email newsletter at https://lnkd.in/gNqDJab #Podcast #RetailTechnology #RetailPricing #PricingStrategy #PriceOptimization #Software

🛒 What makes a retail media network thrive rather than stall? Dive into 5 key takeaways from Kevel CEO James Avery's conversation with Ben Johnson, Senior Director of Chewy Ads, in this episode of #UnlockingRetailMedia. Read the full blog here 👇 https://lnkd.in/ezyxui9m 🎧 Or listen to the full conversation and unlock the insights! Links in comments 👇

Your CEO went to a conference, heard the word "Personalization," and now it is the only thing that matters on your 2026 e-commerce roadmap. It doesn’t matter that your data is a mess. It doesn’t matter that you’re still trying to fix basic site speed. The CEO wants "1-to-1 AI-driven experiences" because the keynote speaker said it was the future. Kasey Wiese, Director of E-Commerce at Liberty Safe, calls it what it actually is: Creepy. We sat down with Kasey for the second episode of Season 2 of Checkin to Checkout, and she didn’t hold back on the industry nonsense we all politely nod at in meetings. She’s tired of the "old model" of personalization where we track every click like a digital stalker. "I buy one baby shower gift, and suddenly the internet decides I’m a mother of three and need diapers for the next 4 years. You’re wrong. Stop assuming." It is wildly refreshing to hear a Director actually say the quiet part out loud: Most of these "strategic initiatives" are just buzzwords that leadership teams use to feel involved. We also got into the messy reality of the job: Why Black Friday is actually the worst time of the year (it's all panic, zero strategy). The art of "Radical Candor" and how to stop taking site bugs personally. The time she sent an email to the entire list with a typo in the word "The" (and why it probably performed better because of it). If you’re tired of chasing buzzwords and want to hear from a leader who’s actually doing the work, you need to hear this one. Link to the full episode right here: https://lnkd.in/esHd44zZ My take: I’m skeptical of personalization because it costs a fortune in time and treasure, yet usually impacts a tiny percentage of total revenue. Is personalization actually driving growth for you, or is it just a word on a slide to keep the board happy?

Ecommerce is no longer just unpredictable… it is entering a period of intentional structural chaos. 🌶️ I had a blast joining Brian Roisentul from The DTC Insider show for their opening episode of Season 6 to break down what elements of chaos we are navigating right now. Inside the conversation we tore into: • What separated $50M+ brands that thrived from those stuck as ecommerce “zombies” • The dangerous landmines that exist without disciplined channel diversification • Dark stories inside the ecommerce software ecosystem • How agentic commerce is going to radically impact the value of a brand’s website • Why human connection is the competitive advantage everyone keeps ignoring We’ve lived through multiple seismic shifts in Ecom. If you care about acquisition that scales without burning cash, retention that actually sticks, and building a brand that doesn’t collapse when performance marketing sneezes, along with some spicy takes… I think you’ll enjoy this episode. Link in the comments!

💥 Don’t Miss This Episode! 💥 Is live selling the next major profit channel for e-commerce brands? In episode 777 of Millionaire University, host Brien Gearin sits down with John Roman to unpack why live selling especially on platforms like Whatnot is proving far easier to profit from than TikTok Shop for many sellers. 💡 What You’ll Learn: ✅ What live selling actually is and why it converts so well ✅ The BattlBox origin story ✅ How Whatnot’s auction-style format, boosts, and raids create high-intent buyers ✅ The consumer psychology behind live shopping and why engagement drives revenue ✅ Practical insights on show timing, frequency, and hosting strategies ✅ Why John believes live commerce is still the “Wild West” with massive upside If you run a DTC brand, sell collectibles or gear, or are exploring new acquisition channels, this episode offers a real look at what’s working right now not theory, but execution. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/g_M2Z6sW #Ecommerce #LiveSelling #DTC #OnlineQueso

🚀 Earn Early Trust — The New Competitive Advantage in 2026 🚀 Consumers are no longer impulse buyers reacting only to promotions. They’re deliberate, data-driven, and starting their research much earlier in the journey (weeks or even months before purchase events like Prime Day or Black Friday). That’s the core insight from the latest Unpacking the Digital Shelf episode featuring Daniel Reid, Principal Insights Analyst at Similarweb. 🔍 Here’s what brands need to know: ✔️ Trust beats discounting. With consumers scrutinizing options longer, clear value and credibility before promotional windows matters more than ever. ✔️ Visibility all year counts. It’s not just about being competitive during tentpole sale dates, it’s about showing up and conveying value consistently across channels. ✔️ Content and clarity fuel confidence. Detailed product stories, transparent features, ratings, and consistency across touchpoints help consumers feel secure earlier in their research. Tune in to hear the full episode!