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
Jan 31, 2022 • 14min
January 31st, 2022: Amazon’s New ‘Style” Department Store Concept, Gopuff’s First Private Label Line, Walmart’s Plans for GoLocal, and the Latest on Shopify
It’s January 31st, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Amazon's New "Style" Department Store Concept Kicks Sand In the Face of Investors Who Think Retail Innovation is Dead
Gopuff Launches its First Private Label Line
How Walmart GoLocal Plans to Stand out Among Delivery Businesses
Shopify Fulfillment Seems to be Going Nowhere FasAudiogram
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Jan 24, 2022 • 11min
January 24th, 2022: Toyota and Amazon launch Amazon Parts Store, 2022 Supply Chain Issues, Online Grocery Sales of Alcohol, and Kohl’s Investor Macellum Capital
It’s January 24th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Toyota and Amazon launch new Amazon Parts Store in the UK
2022 supply chain issues are looking remarkably similar to 2021
Online grocery sales of alcohol to reach almost $2 Billion this year according to new report
Kohl’s investor Macellum Capital wants to burn the company down
And the Investor Minute which contains four items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Jan 17, 2022 • 11min
January 17th, 2022: Reactions to Shopify’s App Store Changes, Accenture’s Predictions About Social Commerce, Walmart Expands In-Home Delivery, and IKEA’s Price Changes
It’s January 17th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Shopify’s app store changes have some developers upset, but there’s really nothing to see here
Accenture predicts social commerce will grow three times faster than eCommerce.
Will you let Walmart into your garage? Its In-Home Delivery to expand to 30 million US households this year.
Pricing moving on up at IKEA, in step with trends from many brands and retailers
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Jan 10, 2022 • 13min
January 10th, 2022: Walmart leads in click and collect and curbside orders, Amazon’s potential web stores product, Fanatics buys Topps trading card business, and the U.S. retail sales growth
It’s January 10th, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Walmart drove 25% of click and collect and curbside orders in 2021
Could Amazon build a new web stores product in the coming years?
Fanatics is buying Topps trading card business in a nod to the digital future
Mastercard report shows U.S. retail sales grew 8.5% in November and December
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Jan 3, 2022 • 9min
January 3rd, 2021: Top 5 stories of 2021!
It’s January 3rd, 2022 and this is the Watson Weekly - your essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on our show we’re going to do something a little bit different and review 2021’s top 5 stories, as seen by my LinkedIn feed:
Number 5. Supply Chain Crisis hits everyone hard.
Number 4. Retail Stores strike back
Number 3. Are Target and Walmart the New Malls?
Number 2. Investors Look to Split Up Several Large Retailers
Number 1. Shopify Executive Departures Cause Concern at the Company
Dec 27, 2021 • 12min
December 27th, 2021: A New Consumer Probe, Nordstrom's Off-Price Rack Business, McDonald's Sells Software to Mastercard, and Shopify's New Board Member
It’s December 27th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - your essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on our show:
Could a new consumer probe blunt the rise of buy now pay later?
Nordstrom is looking to split its off-price Rack business
McDonald’s sells software provider Dynamic Yield to Mastercard in a warning to both retailers and technology companies
Shopify board adds Instacart’s CEO Fidji Simo - What’s the Plan here?
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
Dec 20, 2021 • 15min
December 20th, 2021: Meta and Shopify, Carolyn Everson’s early departure, new marketplaces, and buy now, pay later in 2022
It’s December 20th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Is Meta Taking Aim at Shopify?
Instacart’s President Carolyn Everson Departs After Just 3 Months
What’s With All the New Marketplaces?
What Does 2022 Have In Store for Buy Now, Pay Later?
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Dec 13, 2021 • 14min
December 13th, 2021: Amazon’s profitability, activist investors and Kohl’s, Allbirds Q3 losses, and the state of the supply chain issue
It’s December 13th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
Is Amazon Fooling the Market About Its Profitability?
Kohl’s Is Next Up In a Long Line of Retailers Targeted by Activist Investors
Allbirds’ Q3 Losses Prompt Debate Over Its Future
Supply Chain Issues Will Take Longer To Sort Out Than Many Expect
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Dec 6, 2021 • 10min
December 6th, 2021: PopSugar partners with Target, Amazon’s sales soar, the Metaverse, and Amazon’s third-party logistics market.
It’s December 6th, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
PopSugar partners with Target for new fitness line
Cyber Monday sales drop but Amazon’s sales soar
What’s really going on with the Metaverse?
Is Amazon already king of the third-party logistics market?
And the Investor Minute which contains four items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
Dec 1, 2021 • 11min
December 1st, 2021: Commercetools’ New Acquisition, Cyber Week, UPS and FedEx Holiday Crunch, and Nike Invests in the Metaverse
It’s December 1st, 2021 and this is the Watson Weekly - Your Essential eCommerce Digest!
Today on the show:
eCommerce Platform Commercetools Takes Aim at the Mid-Market with a New Acquisition
Tracking the Cyber Week Winners and Losers
UPS and FedEx Looking Good for the Holiday Crunch
Nike Invests in the Metaverse with a Roblox Partnership
And the Investor Minute which contains five items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.
For more news from Rick, check out:
https://www.rmwcommerce.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickwatsonecommerce/
