Episode Details

Live from Shoptalk 2019, there's a lot to say about brands, Levi's keynote, and puppies which seem to be everywhere! Future Commerce Director of Content Lianne Hikind joins the show, and clienteling is a major theme at Shoptalk sessions.

Show Notes:

Main Takeaways:

• Phillip and Brian podcast live for the third time from #Shoptalk2019!

• FC's Director of Content Lianne Hikind joins the show

• Why does anybody think giving free haircuts at a conference is a good idea?

• Shoptalk launches Retail Club to help retailers and merchants network.

• Boring brands continue to die off because they are not engaging with customers.

Trouble With Tribbles: Payment Providers in 2019:

• Paypal Credit is a familiar face on the Shoptalk marketplace floor.

• Brian regrets not getting a free haircut at Shoptalk, though why there are free haircuts at a conference is confusing, and slightly unsanitary.

• Maybe the free haircuts are connected to the abundance of payment providers because all the money that people would have spent on a haircut, or makeup, they could spend on their payment solution.

• Are Shoptalk attendees channeling Alex Honnold from Free Solo?

Future Commerce's Resident Puppy Analyst: Shoptalk Shop Talk:

• Phillip points out that there are puppies everywhere at Shoptalk, it's true, and it's fantastic.

• Lianne joins the show to bring some millennial perspective and literally drops her mic.

• Stylitics, a B2B outfit, and styling technology company was impressive, their new feature of allowing the customer to curate outfits in-store is going to change the in-store shopping game.

• Phillip uses the term hornswoggled, which apparently makes him old.

• One of the best sessions at Shoptalk was Marc Rosen EVP at Levi's keynote: and he was wearing Levi's jeans which made the session all the better.

• Levi's is re-inventing itself by offering customers customizable options, which in the era of personalization is an excellent idea.

• Levi's is a pretty ancient brand, starting out over 165 years ago, by creating better jeans for miners to wear while they worked, the original customer feedback loop.

Lunch Tables Are Lit at Shoptalk: Connecting With Brands Over Bread:

• One of the best places to meet exciting brands at Shoptalk? The breakfast and lunch tables.

• Phillip had the opportunity to chat with Adidas Speed Factory, Adidas had a very similar story to Levi's in regards to the evolution in the supply chain, and now they're making products closer to fulfillment, cutting down on the time it takes to make each product.

• Brian and Lianne had a long conversation with Flowers Foods, who have acquired a new line of gluten-free bread, which will save Lianne from missing out on bread.

• And there is no better way of getting Shoptalk attendees to connect, then over food and coffee.

• And a company that is not to be named was overheard talking about how GDPR is already causing pain for U.S based brands.