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  • Phoebe Yu loves jumping down rabbit holes with the audience of her curiosity-driven channel on YouTube that focuses on research, human psychology, and culture, specifically within the tech sector. But if something interesting finds its way into the comment section, she’ll deep dive into that too. Listen now to Phoebe Yu’s conversation with Phillip and Brian!

    Looking Back to Look Forward

    Key Takeaways:

    [00:10:39] “Research is always iterating just like design. So I really want to keep that active research going, including participation from the audience.” - Phoebe[00:13:06] “Japan has been living in the year 2000 since 1980.” - Phoebe[00:29:09] “In a low context culture, people tend to communicate more directly, more explicitly, and in a high context culture, people would communicate in a more nuanced, more implicit kind of way.” - Phoebe[00:32:24] “It is always good to reduce user friction no matter what. We have to look at things contextually and see how that friction serves how that user feels about a certain service, a certain platform.” - Phoebe[00:42:47] “There is an inherent sense of curiosity when it comes to how different cultures operate because we, us, personally, we grew up in a specific culture, and it's easy to think that that is just how things are done across the board. But then when you realize there are different people doing things in a different way, that it might shatter your existing notions about certain things, and that raises a lot of questions of how things can be done.” - PhoebeAssociated Links:Subscribe on YouTube to Phoebe YuCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus

    Save 20% on Future Commerce print journals and merchPrivate GPT access with Alani™ from BundleIQExclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISIONS)Ad-free episodes and bonus content!
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  • Spooky Commerce finishes with an epic finale as we explore the mysterious history of Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market. Phillip, Brian, and Sarah share tales of ghost sightings, haunted (coffee) grounds, and the rich lore behind one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the U.S. PLUS: Phillip and Brian debrief a tragedy involving AI-to-human relationships and discuss the challenges parents face as children gain unrestricted access to AI tools.

    The Roast With the Ghost

    TW: This week’s episode discusses sensitive subject matter, including suicide.

    Key Takeaways:

    AI taking on a life of its own: Children have unrestricted access to increasingly lifelike AI tools. Pike Place Market is home to more than just vendors: It's rumored to house spirits from Seattle’s early days.Kells yeah: Kells Irish Pub sits on a former mortuary and a former indigenous burial site – and is one of Seattle’s most haunted locations. [00:09:30] “​​The thing is, the difference between what you were doing and what an AI is doing is you are interacting with real people. Message boards were human-to-human communication. It was just instantaneous. This is like, getting sucked into a video game that has no end.” – Brian[00:18:00] "This thing (AI) has escaped containment." – Phillip[00:25:22] “Brian’s developed a palate that's sophisticated enough to taste the ghost in Pike Place roast.” – Phillip[00:03:35] "The building that Kells Pub exists in is the Butterworth and Sons building, which was not only a former mortuary, but it was also built on top of tribal burial grounds.” – Sarah[00:40:00] “There's just there's so many elements here that would actually enable this sort of storytelling around the place.” – BrianAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce
  • This week we unpack multisensory commerce, the economical ebb and flow of re-commerce, and reflect on Phillip’s keynote at the Motion Creative Strategy Summit. PLUS: Spooky Commerce is back. Phillip, Brian, and Sarah journey to a haunted 1980’s Bay Area Toys R Us.

    The Duality of RecommerceKey takeaways:Tactile interactions produce profound experiences – something digital media cannot replicate. Phillip’s keynote presentation at the Motion Creative Strategy Summit highlighted the polymathic inspiration of tactile creativity.[00:09:30] “Things that you consider to be highly immersive aren't as immersive as you think they are. The sphere is very immersive, but it is not as tactile as Meow Wolf's Omega mart.” – Phillip[00:21:15 ] “I step into that Waymo and I get, you know, a technology rush. It feels like, finally. Oh, finally. It's here. All the things that we've all dreamed of. And I think it's because the imagination has already moved on.” – Brian[00:33:30 ] "Sylvia Brown herself came in, so this brought a lot of coverage to the story…they did this whole televised seance moment, and she discovered that the ghost's name is Johnny Johnson." – Sarah[00:34:15] "What a weird fate for him. You know? First of all, tragic death. Second of all, like, a toy store gets built over, like, this beautiful ranch where he was supposed to live this life, and then he gets to haunt toys." – BrianAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • From dead-and-undead-again crypto cycles to eBay’s paranormal side, we explore the range of the paranormal in this week’s installment of Spooky Commerce. Listen now!

    Crypt-O-Currency, Panic Buying and Paranormal DucksKey takeaways:eCommerce giants like Pinduoduo (Temu’s parent company) are contributing to deflation in China by flooding the market with cheap goods.Disaster alerts compete with the attention economy. In our daily flurry of push notifications, we might also be alerted of an impending natural disaster.Despite repeated crashes, the cryptocurrency market continues to revive itself.{00:03:55} "The visual language of a hurricane is lines at retail or empty shelves having been bought out. It’s part of the cultural act of a disaster... commerce is so disrupted in a moment of disaster." – Phillip{00:19:10} "I don't know which is worse, this horrific porcelain doll I'm looking at called the 'Haunted Effanbee Doll' from the 1930s, or the fact that it's listed at $12,000." – Phillip{00:27:20} “I am not clicking that link. Oh, it’s a duck? Okay, link me that one.” – Brian{00:31:00} “There's a lot of stuff that's sold on the Internet that's actually really hard to validate whether it can do what it says that it does. And I bet there are reviews of this duck that make it sound like people had paranormal experiences with it… Individual experiences are what we use to validate whether something is trustworthy to purchase.” – Brian{00:33:00} "Do the delivery drivers know they’re transporting haunted relics?" – SarahAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • Is the world of copyright infringement getting weirder? We catch up on the latest (and tastiest) brand battles. PLUS: October-exclusive segment, Spooky Commerce, where we take a look at an interesting urban legend that will make you say, “Holy matrimony!”

    Seattle Suits and Lawsuits

    More from Shoptoberfest: Brian, Mike Wattier and Jeremy Noonan dive deeper into our latest report, “The Honest Truth.”

    Key takeaways:The lines separating brands’ identities are blurrier and blurrier as markets become more trend-saturated. Enter: Muddy Bites suing The Best Part, and Smuckers suing Chubby.Our latest report found that 77% of retailers trust their agency, but only 1 in 5 brands or retailers actually end up using their agency account manager to help them make a decision about what software they pick. {00:14:39} “Identity is actually going to be a necessity, not just for keeping your identity unique, but also to keep yourself from being copied, or to also make sure that you're not copying anybody else…The only way to protect yourself is to be extremely different.” - Brian{00:15:40} “It could help to be more creative. I do think that if copyright lawsuits were this prevalent during the early age of the Internet, we wouldn't have the Internet we have today.” - Phillip{00: 34:00} “We take the bull by the horns on that one. We want to drive that process because oftentimes, the people that are developing these products, they're not in the trenches doing the implementation, so they're not always fully aligned.” - Jeremy Noonan{00:39:52} “Speed equals money, how fast do you want to go? Leadership doesn't understand the intricacies of the actual work itself. They're not getting that unvarnished truth about how to fill the gaps properly.” - Mike WattierAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • If buying software were a cage match, the RFP would be a royal rumble. Dive into the weird world of software buying and the flawed nature of RFPs with Philipp Krueger and Jason Nyhus, as we explore insights from the latest Future Commerce report, "The Honest Truth."

    Lies, Damned Lies, and RFPsKey takeaways:“The Honest Truth” report reveals that 81% of merchants expect software implementation to differ from their original RFP expectations.Companies value both speed to market and customization, but these priorities are often at odds. Integrating AI into software selection processes can free up time to develop more tailored solutions.{00:26:56} “[The RFP process] is flawed to the bone. You're reduced to feature lists. And you just tick off boxes; ‘Can we do that? Can we do that?’ ” - Philipp Krueger{00:29:17} “I think AI is going to completely revolutionize the way that we capture requirements, the way that we qualify what's being said in an RFP, and how we do agency and software selection.” - Phillip Jackson{00: 30:19} “RFP processes, I think they started in the late 19th century if I remember correctly. So today, we're still running this antiquated process of trying to figure out what vendors can we work with, which is 100 years old…maybe this is the moment that AI changes it.” - Jason Nhuys{00:52:10} “I don’t think you should rely on a classic RFP process because all vendors will give you their, quote, unquote, ‘honest truth.’” - Jason NhuysAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • Phillip and Brian debrief this year’s All-In Summit, which touched on coming societal changes due to AI. From the impact of automation to the power of data, they talk through these technological advancements that are reshaping the way we shop, work, and interact.

    PLUS: An exciting sneak peek of the upcoming VISIONS Summit in LA!

    Stealthily Building an Institution

    Key takeaways:

    VISIONS Summit LA is October 10, and your first look at our speaker lineup is finally here.This year’s All-In Summit explored AI’s expanding role in commerce – and our day-to-day lives.{00:22:21} - “Once the hype cycle leaves a conversation, that's when the quiet building begins.” - Phillip{00:36:36} - “Digital security is probably the biggest concern, and all of the benefits of a lot of the tech that's being released right now could just be completely washed out until there's a way through with security.” - Brian{00:45:57} - “Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO, says their AI models are going to be at PhD level reasoning eventually…meaning the model can now pretend to be a human. And my response to that was, will my AI agents also incorrectly tag deals, fake follow ups, forget to set their out of office, argue over deal attribution, and insist that a deal is "close," and "We will definitely close by end of quarter," only to kick it out to fiscal '25 on the last day of Q3? …Because that's how they've been trained, and that's the data they've been trained on.” - Phillip{01:18:16} - “[When] we're building abstraction…the intelligence layer of the world that we're building currently, an agent for Phillip would understand all of that stuff and imbue all of my interactions with every system as being purpose-built for me. I bring my personhood to it. It's not being personalized to me. It's the other way around.” - Phillip{01:22:53} - “The whole craze around NFTs was a thirst for a connection to a verified world where digital and physical are tied together through something that is easily authenticatable. That's going to extend to all aspects of our lives, including our bodies.” - BrianAssociated Links:Join us at VISIONS LA on October 10!Video of Marc Benioff interview at All-InCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • Recorded live from BigSummit, Phillip and Brian join John Affourtit (Senior Director of Strategic Sales at Attentive) and Melissa Dixon (Senior Director of Content Marketing at BigCommerce) to share expert insights on the future of consumer behavior. Dig into the newest Future Commerce & BigCommerce report: New Modes, Redefining Personalization In the Age of AI and learn how brands can stay ahead of ecommerce’s rapidly evolving landscape – from the rise of “omnimodal” shopping to AI’s growing role in personalization. Listen now!

    The New Consumer Journey

    Key takeaways:

    {00:09:30} "Consumers are shifting from an omnichannel shopping journey to an omnimodal shopping journey." – Phillip Jackson{00:17:30} “One of the things that we found that was super interesting is that the scroll set, which is the youngest generation, is that their mode of shopping is highly influenced by how they feel. And this is a challenge because right now, context is collapsing.” – Brian Lange{00:19:15} "If a brand’s website is hard to use, they think less of the brand itself." – Brian Lange{00:28:45} "What I'm most excited about is kind of realizing some of the promises of personalization that we've heard about for so long, specific to things like segmentation and identity and all of the promise of 1-1 communications. AI actually enables us to do that, which is pretty spectacular.” – John AffourtitAssociated Links:Read our latest report, New Modes: Redefining Personalization in the Age of AI.Learn more about our partners BigCommerce at bigcommerce.com. Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • “Get it in their hands” is Kristin Flor Perret’s (Sur La Table, Saucy) secret sauce to blending cutting-edge tech with genuine human connection. Learn how Sur La Table is futureproofing their business and blending education and connection with in-store and digital commerce on Amazon and beyond. Listen now!

    Dishing on Commerce and Connection

    Key takeaways:

    As automation increases, businesses will need to focus on offering unique, human-centric experiences that machines can’t replicateLeaders need to manage immediate operational tasks while also allocating time for strategic long-term planning to ensure future successLeaders today need to be adaptable and ready to handle change, balancing immediate business needs with long-term strategic thinking.{00:02:46} "To be a really good marketer, you have to want to understand people and why we do what we do." – Kristin Perret {00:06:17} "AI can help shortcut research, but it’s still the responsibility of humans to understand the why behind the data." – Kristin Perret {00:07:04} "We cannot replace humans with technology, and we cannot replace technology with humans." – Kristin PerretAssociated Links:Learn more about Kristin Perret, Saucy, and Sur La TableCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • What an incredible eight years it has been here at Future Commerce, but wait until you see what’s coming next. There is a lot ahead that you won’t want to miss. In this episode Phillip gives you a little taste of what is to come and how you can make sure you stay in the know (because you’re really going to want to stay in the know).

    Buckle Up

    Key takeaways:

    [00:03:52]: "We have a quiz on archetypesjournal.com where you could find out what your archetype is. But it's about shaping or adopting a specific voice in your role within an ecosystem. Your perception and someone else's perception of you could be markedly different. And that's really powerful stuff when you think about it because we are all part of a story.” - Phillip[00:06:08}: This Fall, we're bringing in a new set of editorial voices and some new programming to Future Commerce, including Maya Knights, Mike Millazo, and Sammy Cole. You won’t want to miss their incredible insights![00:10:30]: “We have three new reports coming up, and the first up is called New Modes, Redefining Personalization, the Age of AI. Yes. Another AI report. But this one has a totally different perspective, one you should be paying attention to because we did this deep consumer research, and the insights are really fascinating.” - Phillip[00:13:54]: On September 17th, we're dropping a report on how businesses choose software. And we're specifically asking the question, is the RFP dead? You're gonna have to read it to find out.[00:16:06]: “We will be at the Edge Summit at the beginning of October. So if you are a leader in adopting AI or putting AI to work in your business, if you're an operator that's trying to make use of tools that have built-in AI functionalities, this could be a really great opportunity for you.” - Phillip[00:18:27]: October 10th, Los Angeles for VISIONS Summit LA. Tickets are already on sale. This is the crown jewel of our Fall calendar, October 10th, VISIONS Summit LA, and you can get an early bird ticket right now if you're listening to this over the Labor Day weekend. Associated Links:Learn more about Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • feat. Justin Breton, Head of Brand Marketing and Innovation at Walmart

    How does an early adopter become a leader and consistently one of the most adaptive brands in the market? Listen now as Justin Breton shares the story of innovation Walmart is telling and how they are creating new worlds within the commerce landscape.

    The New Familiar of the Future

    Key takeaways:

    [00:12:26]: "We are a part of our customers' lives in the real world. How do we become a part of their lives in the virtual and digital ecosystem? We rode the wave of the metaverse, but quickly tested, learned, and optimized into our own strategy, which is effectively what you see in market today.” - Justin[00:15:32}: “I would imagine that there's some fatigue around influencer-promoted products. However, there is so much newness and opportunity around influencer-promoted experiences. And so when they can create an experience that feels like an extension to their social persona and is immersive and is also commerce-enabled and features all of the products that they like and is displayed to the fan or the follower in an unexpected way, that is new, and that is different.” - Justin[00:23:04]: “Leveraging this new technology and these emerging platforms to engage with that next generation and position us as a retailer that doesn't just have everything but has your thing is setting us up for the success in the future.” - Justin[00:35:42]: “That's what the opportunity here is. Through these more immersive digital experiences you give people something to engage with and then talk about as well.” - Brian[00:47:25]: “We want to add value. So wherever we're showing up, it's really important that we're adding value, and it has to add value for that platform and that community.” - JustinAssociated Links:Learn more about Justin Breton and Walmart RealmCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus

    Save 20% on Future Commerce print journals and merchPrivate GPT access with Alani™ from BundleIQExclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISIONS)Ad-free episodes and bonus content!
  • In this episode we speak with special guest Lee Glandorf, author of The Sweat Lookbook substack about the intersection of sports, fashion, and culture. Lee, a long-time friend of the podcast and former Director of Marketing at Tracksmith, shares her unique insights on how running culture, women's sports, and performance fashion are evolving. Listen now!

  • feat. Alexa Lombardo and Candace Stewart

    Alexa Lombardo and Candace Stewart co-host this week breaking down the intersection of female athletes, beauty, and commerce. Learn how female athletes are revolutionizing both the sports and beauty industries through authentic storytelling and strategic brand partnerships. Listen now!

    Tunnel Fits: The Court is the new Catwalk

    Key takeaways:

    Female athletes are leading the charge in authentic storytelling, making them ideal partners for beauty brands.Collaborations between beauty brands and female athletes are reshaping traditional beauty standards and enhancing product credibility.Investment in emerging sports like rugby can yield significant returns as these sports grow in popularity.Thoughtful and authentic brand partnerships, like SKIMS by Kim Kardashian, can effectively support and promote female athletes.Brands can benefit from aligning with athletes' lifestyles, creating authentic and relatable connections with their audience.[00:10:11]: "Female athletes are just really better storytellers, versus their male counterparts." - Alexa Lombardo[00:39:54]: "SKIMS by Kim Kardashian... She's done it right. She's included the athletes. The athletes are centered in that." - Candace Stewart[00:42:29]: "Sports are part of a lifestyle, and brands thinking about how they can fit into the lives of these athletes can create really natural and impactful partnerships." - Alexa LombardoAssociated Links:Learn more about Alexa Lombardo and Candace StewartRead Game Face: How Beauty Brands Are Scoring Big with Women's SportsCheck out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • Feat. Aaron Sheehan

    In this rewind episode, we discuss a key topic: the analyst ecosystem and the influence of reports like Gartner's Magic Quadrant on the eCommerce industry. We explore how these reports are created, who they benefit, and their role in shaping market perceptions. Aaron sheds light on the complexities behind the rankings, the criteria used, and the nuances often overlooked in the widely shared 2x2 graphics. Whether you're a seasoned industry professional or new to the world of eCommerce, tune into this conversation of how market analysis shapes strategic decisions and what it means for the future of commerce!

    "Insights from the eCommerce Battlefield"

    Key takeaways:

    Analyst reports like Gartner's Magic Quadrant use specific methodologies to evaluate platforms, focusing on business viability and innovation, not just the technology stack.Engaging with analysts can be crucial for eCommerce platforms, but it’s not mandatory. Those who opt out may still be evaluated based on publicly available data, which could impact their positioning.Platforms can fall off these reports not only by going out of business but also by de-emphasizing certain product lines or failing to grow in line with market expectations.[00:10:06] "It's not pay-to-play. The analysts have a methodology around evaluating solutions... It’s about the business, not just the technology." - Aaron Sheehan[00:29:52] "Why wouldn’t you just build the things that are required to perform well on the platform... What are the forces that keep you from performing really well?" - Phillip[01:06:52] "It's one thing to have a well-built eCommerce platform. It's another thing to be successful with it, which is like getting people to that platform to buy." - Phillip[01:10:15] "The Magic Quadrant isn't just a chart—it's a signal to the market about who’s driving innovation and who's falling behind." - Aaron SheehanAssociated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • In this episode of Future Commerce Rewind, our summer series where we compare today's news against episodes from the archives, we are revisiting Episode 341 with friend of the pod and cultural theorist, Matt Klein, to discuss the findings from his annual META Trends Report. Today, we're not just talking about trends and data. We're talking about a deep human need that's driving patterns and how businesses can begin to sense those patterns and tap into and address the core desires and anxiety of people, and that's what it's all about.

    “Going Airplane Mode”

    Key takeaways:

    - A key takeaway from analyzing over one hundred trend reports spanning several years: many of the reported trends remain unchanged year after year after year.

    - Language used to describe disruptive changes often relies on established nomenclature instead of introducing new terminology.

    - There is an opportunity to hack trend reports by strategically seeding ideas and language that can shape future trends.

    - The ranking of meta-trends in reports can differ between what is frequently mentioned and what exists in cultural data, creating a discrepancy and an opportunity for manipulation.

    - Understanding the deeper human needs beneath trend manifestations is key for organizations to find success in addressing cultural shifts.

    {00:04:50} - “It's quite cliche, but it's a call to action for a little bit of bravery of not what's already being reported and said and what's comfortable, but what do we want to see, what does not yet exist, and how do we put our neck out there and really speak about the things that are uncomfortable, fringy, edgy, and strange because after all that is where change emanates from.” - Matt{00:12:57} - “The problem is the scant few people that are actually doing this type of work and research and will put the quantifiable and qualitative mind to analyzing trends is a small group of people that are all highly self-referential because they're all analyzing the same cohort of data because they're all kind of tapped into the same algorithm.” - Phillip{00:19:47} - “The meta trends act as trailheads for understanding all else within culture. When you acknowledge what's trying to be desired here… you understand beneath the surface what people actually need, that's where organizations find success.” - Matt{00:26:59} - “There's certainly importance and maybe I'm saying that because there's a livelihood or a career anchored or tethered to it, but I would say there are some implications and serious business consequences that come from this, but it is also fun. It is entertaining to be talking about these things and to be dissecting and analyzing.” - Matt{00:30:39} - “It's all from fear. No one wants to be disrupted. No one wants to be the disruptor either. That goes back to this idea of bravery, being the first to say something or sticking their neck out or reporting on the thing that no one else has reported. So you operate from a sense of, "Well, we wanna be the first to be second."’ - Matt{00:39:42} - “Every business is unique, everyone has their different challenges, everyone has their different audiences, and those audiences or those products interpret each of the meta trends uniquely. So what this really is is the starting point, not the answer key.” - MattAssociated Links:Learn more about Matt KleinRead the 2024 Meta Trends ReportCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printThe MUSES Journal is here! Grab your copy of our latest annual journal today at musesjournal.comHave you checked out our YouTube channel yet?Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • Parasocial Relationships Will Change Retail Forever

    Welcome to Future Commerce Rewind, our summer series where we compare today's news against episodes from the archives. Today, we revisit our historic 300th episode from 2023, where we explored the future of commerce shopping experiences through parasocial relationships. We also cover how the chat interface, a UI prediction we made just a year ago, is influencing commerce today. Listen now!

    Unlocking Tomorrow

    Key takeaways:

    [00:02:07] Phillip: "In London, print reading is still a cultural staple and independent eyeglass retailers are thriving. It's a fascinating blend of old-world charm and modern retail innovation."[00:05:19] Phillip: "Imagine shopping with JFK Jr. as your style advisor – that's the future we're heading towards with parasocial relationships and AI."[00:24:51] Brian: "Livestream shopping in the West is a tough sell because our attention spans can't handle the mundane. But if you can make it entertaining, you've got a shot."[00:47:04] Phillip: "We're on the cusp of a new shopping experience where your favorite celebrity or even a virtual influencer can guide your purchases, creating a deeper, ongoing relationship."London maintains a strong print culture while simultaneously seeing a boom in independent eyeglass retailers, highlighting a unique intersection of old and new retail practices.AI-powered interactions with celebrity personas, like JFK Jr., are emerging as a new trend in shopping, blending entertainment with personalized recommendations.AI and parasocial relationships are creating more personalized shopping experiences, fostering deeper consumer connections with brands and influencers.Associated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • We’re back exploring the intersection of technology, payments, and consumer behavior with guests Michaela Weber from BigCommerce and Sanjeev Gill from Stripe Live from VISIONS Summit: NYC. The conversation covers how modern ecommerce platforms and payment solutions are transforming the retail landscape. Join us to discuss the shift from traditional retail hours to 24/7 online shopping, the importance of seamless checkout experiences, and the role of personalization in driving consumer engagement. Listen now!

    Tech-Driven Shopping: Fast, Global, and Personalized

    Key takeaways:

    [03:26] Mikaela Weber: "Shopping is everywhere. Shopping is 24/7."[07:10] Michaela Weber: "There's a monoculture in the sense that if we are from similar demographic groups, we probably see similar pushed ads."Consumers now shop anytime, anywhere, increasing the pressure on brands to be present across multiple channels.While algorithms create personalized experiences, there is still a collective aspect driven by shared demographics and interests.Technologies like AB testing in checkout experiences enable brands to optimize payment methods and enhance the user experience.Associated Links:Check out Future Commerce on YouTubeCheck out Future Commerce+ for exclusive content and save on merch and printSubscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce worldListen to our other episodes of Future Commerce

    Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners!

  • These show notes were written at a time before LLMs were available to the public, if that's any indication of

    In this episode from 2017, we covered:

    WILL WALMART BE COOL AGAIN?Lord and Taylor started selling on walmart.com with their own special homepage.Also, remember how Walmart acquired Bonobos and Modcloth? The world has changed, people.THE DIGITAL DIVIDE:Walmart's upmarket aspirations clashed with the working-class market. Perhaps this is still true?Brian's unfailing optimism about the future of technology and the working class, with technology enabling efficiency and providing better products and better services.Robby Berman posits that AI will serve and make life better for humans, but only the top 1% of humans.A Princeton study on bias in bots explores how AI has the problematic ability to target people for committing potential crimes based off the bias and prejudice of the bot creators.AI ENABLING JOB ELIMINATION?Chris Gardner from Forrester predicts that automation will eliminate 9% of jobs in 2018."These jobs are not low-end jobs, they're white-collar jobs being replaced."Brian is again optimistic: a whole new host of jobs will be created for creating and servicing AI.Reuters reported that a son used data to recreate his dad as a chatbot.