

The Watson Weekly: eCommerce Strategy & News
Watson Weekly
Stop reading the headlines and start understanding the frameworks.
The Watson Weekly is the premier resource for eCommerce executives, delivering sharp, independent strategy on the industry's most critical developments. Join 20-year veteran Rick Watson as he cuts through the noise to help you understand not just what is happening, but why it matters to your business.
Broadcasting three times a week:
Mondays: Strategic deep dives into earnings, mergers, and market shifts.
Wednesdays: Candid interviews with C-Suite luminaries and tech innovators.
Fridays: Join the Watson Weekend for Spirited debates on controversial topics with co-host Jessica Lesesky.
From AI implementation and marketplace dynamics to supply chain logistics and retail operations, we cover the entire commerce landscape. Whether you are a CEO, VP, or operator, this is your competitive advantage in audio form.
The Watson Weekly is the premier resource for eCommerce executives, delivering sharp, independent strategy on the industry's most critical developments. Join 20-year veteran Rick Watson as he cuts through the noise to help you understand not just what is happening, but why it matters to your business.
Broadcasting three times a week:
Mondays: Strategic deep dives into earnings, mergers, and market shifts.
Wednesdays: Candid interviews with C-Suite luminaries and tech innovators.
Fridays: Join the Watson Weekend for Spirited debates on controversial topics with co-host Jessica Lesesky.
From AI implementation and marketplace dynamics to supply chain logistics and retail operations, we cover the entire commerce landscape. Whether you are a CEO, VP, or operator, this is your competitive advantage in audio form.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 4, 2024 • 18min
November 4th, 2024: CEO merry-go-round continues, Paypal earnings report show progress and challenges, UPS releases Q3 earnings, and everyone in retail copying everyone else
Today on our show:CEO merry-go-round continues Paypal earnings report show progress and challengesUPS releases Q3 earningsEveryone in retail copying everyone elseAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Oct 28, 2024 • 15min
October 28th, 2024: Is 2024 the Generative AI holiday? Amazon's new low cost store concept might as well be called "Off-Prime", is 2025 the year bad eCommerce content officially dies? And BigCommerce expands its leadership team
Today on our show:Is 2024 the Generative AI holiday?Amazon new low cost store concept might as well be called "Off-Prime"Is 2025 the year bad eCommerce content officially dies?BigCommerce expands its leadership teamAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Oct 21, 2024 • 15min
October 21st, 2024: Optimization will be the watchword in 2025, OpenStore pivoting into Helpdesk Software, Walmart appoints Seth Dellaire as Chief Growth Officer, and new report shows Unicorns lack exit options
Today on our show:Optimization will be the watchword in 2025OpenStore pivoting into Helpdesk SoftwareWalmart appoints Seth Dellaire as Chief Growth OfficerNew report shows Unicorns lack exit optionsAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Oct 14, 2024 • 16min
October 14th, 2024: Holiday season preview, what’s happening with Shop Promise? Former Amazon leader Dave Clark raises $100M for Auger and marketplaces like eBay are dropping their fees
Today on our show:Holiday season previewWhat’s happening with Shop Promise?Former Amazon leader Dave Clark raises $100M for AugerMarketplaces like eBay are dropping their feesAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Oct 7, 2024 • 18min
October 7th, 2024: Lightspeed exploring strategic alternatives, Loop creates offset return feature, CVS conducting a strategic review, and Travis Hess named new BigCommerce CEO
Today on our show:Lightspeed exploring strategic alternativesLoop creates offset return featureCVS conducting a strategic reviewTravis Hess named new BigCommerce CEOAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Sep 30, 2024 • 17min
September 30th, 2024: John Donahoe steps down from Nike, Amazon introduces new supply chain service, what’s going on with the retail job market? And the fight over de minimis and how this will end
Today on our show:John Donahoe steps down from NikeAmazon introduces new supply chain serviceWhat’s going on with the retail job market?The fight over de minimis and how this will endAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Sep 23, 2024 • 19min
September 23rd, 2024: Shopify’s progress in the enterprise market, Biden White House makes de minimis announcement, Amazon’s return to office memo code for layoffs, and Salesforce makes several release announcements at Dreamforce - or does it?
Today on our show:Shopify’s progress in the enterprise marketBiden White House makes de minimis announcementAmazon’s return to office memo code for layoffsSalesforce makes several release announcements at Dreamforce - or does it?And finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Sep 16, 2024 • 12min
September 16th, 2024: What is going on with Bolt, Walmart and StockX partner up, Bankrate holiday consumer survey results, creating the perfect board presentation
Today on our show:What is going on with bolt?Walmart and StockX partner upBankrate holiday consumer survey resultsCreating the perfect board presentationAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Sep 9, 2024 • 12min
September 9th, 2024: Walmart Marketplace expands services for sellers, a few notes on planning, Paul Graham’s “Founder Mode” essay, and Temu starting to recruit US brands
Today on our show:Walmart Marketplace expands services for sellers A few notes on planningPaul Graham’s “Founder Mode” essayTemu starting to recruit US brandsAnd finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

Sep 2, 2024 • 16min
September 2nd, 2024: BigCommerce looks like it’s not selling, Shopify hires a new Chief Technology Officer, why technology is not a business differentiator for brands, and are layoffs the order of the day in eCommerce?
Today on our show:BigCommerce looks like it’s not sellingShopify hires a new Chief Technology OfficerWhy technology is not a business differentiator for brandsAre layoffs the order of the day in eCommerce?And finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly


