BRAVE COMMERCE

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE Joy Simonson, Head of Global Consumer eCommerce at 3M talks about how the brand’s “maker culture” has contributed to its success in both the B2B and B2C eCommerce world. She starts by speaking about how leveraging B2B eCommerce provides incremental profits for B2C and how both work hand and hand. Emphasizing the importance of data, Joy stresses how optimizing content leads to conversion. When a brand is able to tie content to data, it can truly test its effectiveness. 3M, as a large technology company, has adopted a “maker culture”, in which they constantly are testing and iterating their products and marketing initiatives. Joy explains that since the company has an engineering foundation, they are able to automate its output quickly. As an expert in the eCommerce space, Joy says that eCommerce belongs everywhere for brands because it is another road to the consumer. She speaks on how it is important to build a common language to align all teams. She stresses the value of cross-functional work to build empathy and says that when teams are able to create a human relationship and listen to each other’s needs, they can quickly advance together. In this episode, you will learn just how far testing your ideas, leading with empathy, and working together can get a brand in the eCommerce space. Key Takeaways:Optimizing content with data leads to conversionShowing and providing platforms for cross-functional work, such as building a common language, allows brands to quickly advance togethereCommerce is important for all brands, as it is another way to ultimately reach the consumer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer at Albertsons Suzanne Long has an expansive scope of responsibilities ranging from increasing inclusion to decreasing waste and fostering community.In order to avoid attempting impractical moonshots, Suzanne prioritizes setting a very clear vision of the impact that Albertsons wants to make and then developing a multi-year roadmap to lead the organization in that direction. After conducting a materiality assessment they set four main opportunities to demonstrate leadership:Climate ActionWaste Reduction and CircularityDiversity, Equity, and InclusionCommunity StewardshipSuzanne also outlines how important Albertsons’ frontline workers are to their transformation efforts. She points out that only by unleashing the human magic in these employees can they provide a magical experience for their shoppers. The conversation ends with a discussion about the need for retailer collaboration to make sustainability efforts more impactful. It will take pressure from all retailers to shift the packaging used by CPG brands and the recycling behavior of consumers. Key Takeaways:Grocery retailers differentiate themselves not by the products they sell, but by the experience and environment they provide for their shoppersSuccessful goals begin with setting very clear objectives and outlining a plan to achieve themNon-competitive sharing between retailers will help everyone achieve more sustainable practices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Gonzalve Bich, CEO of BIC, joins hosts Rachel Tipogaph and Sarah Hoffstetter to talk about developing a high-quality product. At the top of the episode, he attributes his success as a business leader to being open to understanding and exposing himself to perspectives other than his own.  In alignment with this principle, he finds it essential to hire employees who are diverse not only culturally, but also in the experience they bring to the company. This inclusive approach to hiring supports the development of BIC products that meet the needs of customers around the world.Gonzalve points out that taking a global perspective to product development sparks innovation and highlights three different ways that BIC innovates products. Technical innovation - focusing on sustainable, technically useful productsOpen innovation - accepting and listening to new ideasConsumer driven innovation - listening to the consumer and their needsRecently, BIC put all of these innovative approaches to work in shifting to 100 percent sustainable packaging for its products.In addition to innovation, BIC relies on strong retailer relationships to expand their connections with consumers.  It all starts with a high quality product that resonates with consumers. He says: “The theoretical opposition between brand and retailer is solved by having amazing products and an amazing brand. If you don’t have both of those then you don’t have a right to be there.” Internally they say “A BIC seen is a BIC sold.” Key Takeaways:Consumer driven innovation delivers resultsDiversity of all kinds fuels creativityYou have to bring something to the table to strengthen relationships with retailers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Chris Rogers, Chief Business Officer of Instacart joins hosts Rachel Tipogaph and Sarah Hoffstetter to talk about how Instacart has grown as a Quick Commerce retailer, even after the pandemic. Chris recalls his work experience with Apple, and how he made the jump to Instacart when it was a much smaller company than it is today. Upon taking this potentially risky leap, he quickly saw the company scale to provide solutions to many consumers seeking delivery options amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic. Since the Pandemic, Instacart continues to see growth, as has online Grocery shopping. To capitalize on this growth, Instacart has made strides to become more accessible to all consumers by offering opportunities to save and matching in-store prices.Instacart builds strong retailer relationships by positioning itself not as a competitor, but as an enablement tool. They align their incentives alongside the retailers and even help retailers activate shopping and advertising on their store websites. An example of this is their “Carrot Ads”, which Sprouts recently launched, and other retailers plan to do in the near future. Chris also shares information about Instacart’s newest tool, “Ask Instacart”, which uses ChatGPT to help shoppers make grocery-related decisions as they shop. He delves into the applications that  AI will have in the future of Instacart and how it can help shoppers discover products and make purchasing decisions. Key Takeaways:Quick commerce providers and retailers need strong relationships to drive mutual successAI is a new frontier when it comes to purchasing decisions; tools like “Ask Instacart” may strongly influence consumer decisions in the futureCOVID-19 pandemic growth does not have to plateau, there is still very much opportunity for growth in eCommerce Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE Heather Malenshek introduces hosts Rachel and Sarah to the full breadth of what Land O’Lakes offers not only to customers, but also to the farmers who make their products possible. She shares that Land O’Lakes is on a mission to promote the critical role that farmers play in putting food on our tables as part of the full complex story that is the Land O’Lakes brand narrative.When Malenshek transitioned to Land O’Lakes after years at Harley Davidson she learned that these seemingly disparate companies had one key thing in common - customers who are passionate about the brand. This brand passion helped not only Land O’Lakes but the farmers they work with to grow through the pandemic. During that time they leaned into telling the story of being a farmer and retailer-owned cooperative with sustainability at its heart.In her current role as a CMO in a leading cooperative, Malenshek underscores the importance of listening to her team and customers, continuously learning from them to drive innovation and enhance the brand's identity. Malenshek points out that even in tough times, it is important to invest in brand and marketing.Key Takeaways:Consistent brand messaging is vital for developing key retailer relationships and long-term growthThe essence of a company extends beyond a product or a logo – it's about the story, ethos, and values it representsCollaborative team efforts are crucial in the process of building and redefining impactful brand narratives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Shelley Zalis,  Founder and CEO of The Female Quotient,  joins hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter to discuss the importance of gender equality and diversity in business.Shelley begins by sharing her personal experiences as one of the two women on a board of 25 men, shedding light on her journey towards founding The Female Quotient. She emphasizes how, rather than waiting for change to happen, she took the initiative to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the corporate world, even when it was not widely recognized as a priority.Drawing from a pivotal experience where she gathered a group of women at a male-dominated convention, Shelley shares how this moment of collective empowerment became the catalyst for The Female Quotient. She emphasizes how this experience highlighted the power of women working together, challenging the status quo of competition, and promoting a culture of collaboration and shared success.Finally, Zalis concludes with her approach to success, "If you don't fail, you don't succeed", highlighting the importance of embracing failure as a stepping stone to success.Key Takeaways:Waiting for the right time doesn't bring change; it's the initiative and action that doesThe potential for faster change increases when existing norms are actively challengedA decade ago, diversity, equity, and inclusion weren't business priorities. Today, they must be central to all sectors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, hosts Sarah and Rachel sit down with Diana Frost, Chief Growth Officer at Kraft Heinz to discuss agile leadership, the importance of learning from failures, and the company's growth strategies. Diana shares how her commitment to an agile mindset and a "village" approach to team dynamics have shaped the culture at Kraft Heinz. By embracing failures as learning opportunities, the company has not just managed to stay current, but also continues to infuse their core values into their everyday operations. Diana gives an insider's look into Kraft Heinz's strategic partnership with Microsoft and the company's $2 billion investment in innovation over the next five years. She highlights how striking a balance between speed, scrappiness, and scalability is key to their "agile at scale" approach. Furthermore, she discusses the integration of AI technology in their operational efficiency, drawing attention to the delicate interplay between human intuition and data-driven decisions. Diana emphasizes the importance of the human touch even with new technological advancement, believing that humanity is still integral to driving creativity and innovation. Key Takeaways:●     Agile leadership, characterized by fast learning and growth from failures, leads to a more resilient and innovative company culture●     A "village mindset" in team dynamics fosters support, collaboration, and enhanced problem-solving●     Striking a balance between agility, scalability, and human intuition is essential to successfully leveraging technology for growth and efficiency Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE Eduardo Luz, Chief Brand and Concept Officer at Panera discusses AI, generosity, and a member first approach with hosts Sarah and Rachel. With an exceptional 55 million loyalty members, Panera has identified "generosity" as the defining characteristic of their brand. Eduardo delves into how Panera's dedication to generosity, towards individuals, community, and the planet, has shaped their initiatives. Through their approaches, such as donating their unsold goods to local nonprofits, Panera has not only reinvented themselves technologically but is staying true to their core values. Eduardo discusses how integrating AI technology in their customer service initiatives has aided in the diversification of their revenue streams and increased their conversion rate by 30 to 40% in the first 3-4 months of implementation. emphasizing the goal of achieving both brand objectives and an enhanced consumer shopping experience. He emphasizes that finding the correct balance between technology and authenticity is key when developing an AI strategy. Key Takeaways:By adopting AI technologies such as machine learning and chatbots, businesses can improve operational efficiency, increase customer engagement, and drive growthA strong brand identity helps differentiate a business and resonates with customers on a deeper levelBy integrating a technology-first mindset throughout the organization, businesses can foster an environment of innovation and stay at the forefront of their industry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Gabi Lewis, Co-Founder of Magic Spoon, joins Rachel and Sarah to share his insights on expanding into the retail space from a DTC perspective with a focus on innovation, acquisition, and brand identity. Gabi and his co-founder, Greg Sewitz, recognized the need for a fresh perspective and launched Magic Spoon in 2019, with a focus on health and innovation. After founding two companies together, Gabi shares that a key component to their strong co-founder relationship is making a clear division of roles within the company. He explains that having a solid brand foundation is crucial before a company decides to expand into retailers. Discussing that without a strong brand foundation, a product risks being lost in the vast sea of options available to consumers, especially in a highly competitive industry like cereal making it key to take the time to build a solid foundation before launching a product into the retail market. Gabi emphasizes the importance of diversifying customer acquisition techniques to achieve success. He explains how Magic Spoon has effectively utilized endorsement channels, influencers, podcasts, and other strategies to reach a wider audience and establish a strong brand identity. Gabi also shares how the company achieved success by making influencers seed investors and partnering with some of the biggest names in the DTC space. Key Takeaways:●     Diversification in customer acquisition techniques is crucial●     Building a solid brand foundation is key for success in retail●     Utilizing influencers can build a strong online presence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, Sandie Hawkins, GM of US eCommerce at TikTok,  joins Rachel and Sarah to discuss the power of including TikTok in your brand strategy.Sandie emphasizes that TikTok's community commerce approach brings people together to discover products through a new version of word-of-mouth. She highlights that the commerce mindset is already present on the platform since the TikTok community is 1.5 times more likely to convert when compared to users on other platforms.Sandie also shares how TikTok constantly tests and learns from new approaches, such as affiliate marketing, to improve its commerce strategy. Additionally, she stresses the importance of authenticity and establishing creator partnerships in order to build successful communities on social media. So, what's next for TikTok? Sandie shares that although the platform is still in its testing phase, TikTok is focused on building a seamless marketplace where both community and creators are valued in the US.Key Takeaways:TikTok's community commerce approach drives e-commerce successAuthenticity and creator partnerships are key to building successful communities on social mediaTikTok succeeds by offering a seamless one-stop shop commerce experience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.