The Jason & Scot Show - E-Commerce And Retail News

EP329 - Amazon Q2 2025 Results

EP329 - Amazon Q2 2025 Results 0:38  Welcome to the Jason and Scott Show 12:57  Amazon's Mixed Earnings Report 18:07  The Impact of AWS on Retail 21:18  AWS Performance and AI Concerns 28:55  Amazon's Advertising Strategy 33:33  Amazon's Relationship with Google 35:24 The Future of AI Investments 39:44  User Experience and Advertising 42:42  Economic Uncertainty and Consumer Behavior Welcome back to the Jason & Scot Show! In episode 329, recorded on August 1st, 2025, we dive into the highly anticipated Amazon Q2 earnings report alongside other critical tech giants' earnings results. Your hosts, Jason Goldberg (the retail geek) and Scott Wingo, bring their expert insights and analysis of a rollercoaster earnings season that saw mixed results across the board. Kicking off the episode, Scot sets the stage with a review of Google’s recent earnings results, which painted a mixed picture. While search revenue indicated a solid 12% growth, concerns about the impact of AI on search operations raised eyebrows. Google Cloud did not exhibit the explosive growth anticipated, leading investors to remain cautious. Following this, we turn our focus to the simultaneous announcements from Microsoft and Meta. Each company churned impressive earnings and strategic maneuvers, surpassing expectations and highlighting strong growth driven largely by their AI advancements. Transitioning to Amazon, the top story emerges: the company reported Q2 earnings that, unfortunately, mirrored Google's mixed performance rather than the triumphs seen with Microsoft and Meta. Despite a revenue growth of 12% and operating income surpassing expectations, investors reacted negatively to AWS's performance, which failed to keep pace with its competitors. Jason and Scott dissect the factors leading to Amazon's stock drop post-earnings call and the implications for its sprawling empire. Amazon’s retail performance, particularly in North American and international markets, sparks a lively discussion. Notably, the North American retail business beat expectations by 2%, and international retail excelled by 7%. The hosts clarify that while the overall performance was commendable, it left much to be desired when juxtaposed against AWS's stunted growth and other tech players' successes. Delving deeper, Jason emphasizes the company’s continued enhancements to its supply chain, signalling improvements that strengthen their retail operations, crucial for maintaining growth amidst increasing competition. He also highlights an interesting trend: for the first time, first-party sales outpaced third-party sales, reflecting a noteworthy shift in Amazon’s marketplace dynamics as consumer spending leans towards everyday essentials. As the discussion progresses, Scott raises a critical point about the evolving landscape of online advertising and the pivotal role it plays in driving Amazon’s growth. Despite a slight deceleration in year-over-year growth for the ads business, it remains a bright spot for Amazon, contrasting starkly with AWS’s performance and hinting at the challenges faced in balancing user experience against monetization strategies. The conversation pivots towards AWS, where the hosts dissect the figures that fell below investor expectations—the margins declining for the first time since the previous year, raising questions about structural issues. The ambiguity surrounding Amazon's ability to capture AI growth is a focal point, with analysts expressing concerns about lagging behind competitors. Nearing the end of the episode, a fascinating turn occurs when Scott sheds light on Amazon's recent decision to withdraw its shopping ads from Google. This pivotal move sends ripples across both platforms, provoking various theories about strategic shifts and implications for competitors. The duo shares intriguing insights into how this action marks a significant stake in the ground regarding data ownership and market positioning. As the episode wraps up, Jason and Scott reflect on the broader landscape of AI, retail, and shifting consumer behaviors, suggesting that while Amazon remains a dominant player, its approach and evolution will be crucial in navigating future market dynamics. Be sure to listen in for their final takeaways from the earnings calls and nuanced observations regarding the tech landscape. If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a five-star review on iTunes, and stay tuned for next week’s insights! **Episode 328 of the Jason & Scot Show was recorded on Thursday, July 23rd, 2025.** http://jasonandscot.com Join your hosts Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis, and Scot Wingo, CEO of ReFiBuy and Co-Founder of ChannelAdvisor as they discuss the latest news and trends in the world of e-commerce and digital shopper marketing.

Scoop: Brittain Ladd on Amazon's Local Vending Machine and Autonomous Robotic Rivians for Hyper-efficient grocery delivery

Brittain Ladd worked at Amazon and helped them conceive of a model that was both cheaper than traditional package delivery and more convenient as well.  The goal? To help Amazon (2.5% share) grocery catch-up and ultimately beat Wal-mart in grocery (25% share). It starts with grocery distribution centers that are fully robotic/automated called Local Vending Machines (LVMs) instead of stores.  These LVMS can fill traditional Prime vans with product, or they can fill 'cartridges' that then fit in a specialized Rivian that accepts the cartridge full of product and then robotically fulfills each stop on a delivery route via the robotics in the van.  The final step will ultimately be completed by a humanoid robot. Sound like science fiction?  Brittain Ladd has seen the prototype van and in this podcast we go deep on how Amazon envisions this entire futuristic, zero-human-touch, supply chain working.   Want to learn more?  Detailed article here-> https://open.substack.com/pub/scotwingorefibuy/p/scoop-we-have-the-inside-story-on?r=5av7y5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

EP328 - News, Answer Engine Week

EP328 - Navigating E-commerce News and Innovations in AI Answer Engines for Commerce 0:36  Welcome to the Jason and Scot Show 4:53  Consumer Trends in Retail 5:03  Upcoming Retail Events 8:42  Insights on E-commerce Growth 10:35  Earnings Season Insights 44:13  Amazon Prime Day Analysis 51:30  New Developments with Alexa 56:00  Predictions for the Holiday Season In this episode of the Jason and Scot Show, recorded on Thursday, July 23rd, Jason and Scot delve into the latest shifts within the e-commerce landscape, emerging consumer trends, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in retail transformation. Jason has been on the road, engaging with industry professionals and moderating discussions around pressing retail topics such as social commerce and consumer behavior, particularly the growing usage of answer engines amid an evolving shopping cycle involving giants like Amazon and Google. Scot kicks off the episode by teasing insights from Jason’s recent travels and virtual think tank participation, where they investigated consumer trends such as the surge of ethical purchases and the dynamics of social commerce influenced by platforms like TikTok. The duo explores the implications of consumers increasingly relying on answer engines throughout their shopping journeys, particularly in the wake of mounting competition from dedicated AI solutions. Listeners are treated to an analysis of recent U.S. retail data, highlighting core retail sales growth—a modest 3.8% year-to-date—contrasting the slower pace of e-commerce growth, now at only 6.8%. The conversation turns to the dichotomy between successful retail giants like Amazon and Walmart, against a backdrop of underperforming categories like electronics and home improvement, veering into the impact of macroeconomic factors on consumer spending behavior. The episode also takes a closer look at notable earnings releases, particularly how tech giants like Google are grappling with a shift towards answer engines like ChatGPT, disrupting traditional search methodologies. Scot shares insights on Google's recent performance metrics that seem to mask a creeping decline in organic search volume, while Jason echoes concerns about the current retail media landscape and the challenges it poses to user experience on platforms like Amazon. With light humor and camaraderie peppering deeper analysis, Jason and Scot examine the implications of Walmart's recent hires in AI technology and strategy, reflecting on how retailers are pivoting to become more like answer engines amidst intensifying competition. As they look ahead towards the upcoming holiday season, expectations are tempered by economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions, hinting at an uneven landscape where larger players may gain traction at the expense of smaller retailers. The pair wraps up the episode by expressing optimism for the future of AI in simplifying shopping experiences while also critiquing the current voice shopping functionality on devices like Amazon's Alexa+. Join them as they illuminate the complexities shaping today's e-commerce environment while addressing the pressing questions retailers must answer to thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape. Don't miss out on their engaging discussions; be sure to subscribe for the latest insights into retail trends and innovations! This episode is packed with valuable insights and anecdotes, perfect for retail enthusiasts and industry professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve. Enjoy the show and don’t forget to leave a review! **Episode 328 of the Jason & Scot Show was recorded on Thursday, July 23rd, 2025.** Join your hosts Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis, and Scot Wingo, CEO of ReFiBuy and Co-Founder of ChannelAdvisor as they discuss the latest news and trends in the world of e-commerce and digital shopper marketing.

EP327 - Agentic Commerce

EP327 - Agentic Commerce Happy Fathers Day! In this exciting episode of the Jason & Scot Show, recorded on Friday, June 6th, 2025, hosts Jason Goldberg and Scot Wingo dive into the latest happenings and insights in the world of strategic e-commerce, AI technologies, and retail innovations. This episode picks up where Episode 326 left off, continuing the engaging conversation sparked by their recent discussions around AI and its implications for the retail sector. Kicking off, the duo discusses the monumental news that Fiji Simo, the former CEO of Instacart, has been tasked with leading OpenAI's consumer products division. Jason emphasizes the significant shift this represents for both Fiji’s career and the trajectory of OpenAI, pointing out her unique blend of extensive e-commerce experience and her focus on the future of AI. Both hosts speculate on how her leadership role at OpenAI could steer the integration of AI into commerce, particularly in areas like agentic shopping and advanced AI-driven search capabilities. Shifting gears, Jason and Scot review an intriguing overproduced conversation between OpenAI’s Sam Altman and design visionary Jony Ive about a mysterious new device rumored to empower user access to AI. Scot and Jason share their thoughts on the potential implications of such a device, questioning whether it might be a powerful, screenless AI assistant or simply another Alexa-type solution. The conversation then transitions into a critical discussion about the evolving landscape of search and commerce. Jason unveils his recently published point of view report on AI disruption in commerce search. He argues that while AI-driven search technologies are still in their infancy, they hold the potential to drastically redefine user experiences and efficiency in online shopping, making it imperative for brands to adapt their marketing strategies accordingly. Scot highlights recent statistics from eMarketer that predict exponential growth in AI-related ad spending, setting the stage for a potential paradigm shift in online marketing and advertising dynamics. They explore whether innovative AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity may challenge traditional platforms like Google and reshape businesses' approach to SEO and content strategy. Both hosts don’t shy away from discussing broader social implications, such as the significant role of social media in commerce, especially platforms like TikTok. They reflect on how social media is transforming the way consumers discover and purchase products, paralleling it with the changes brought by AI technologies. In a particularly engaging segment, Jason and Scot examine the recent foray into humanoid robots by Amazon, comparing it to other technological innovations like drones. While amused by the prospect of robots delivering packages, they share a similar concern regarding the practicality and future significance of such technologies. McDonald experts remain skeptical about whether humanoid robots will fundamentally change e-commerce, preferring to focus on the profound changes they believe AI will bring. As they wrap up this marathon double heaer episode, Jason and Scot discuss how perceptions of shopping are evolving, particularly distinguishing between needs fulfillment and the discovery process, and how AI agents could redefine these experiences in a retail context. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe, share their thoughts and reviews, and engage with the show on social media platforms and through Scot's new substack, Retailgentic.ai. Tune in to Episode 327 of the Jason & Scot Show for an insightful exploration of the present and future of AI in retail, recorded amid their back-to-back sessions fueled by the wealth of information gathered during Jason’s global journey in e-commerce. Don't forget to like our facebook page, and if you enjoyed this episode please write us a review on itunes. Episode 327 of the Jason & Scot show was recorded on Friday, June 6th. http://jasonandscot.com Join your hosts Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis, and Scot Wingo, CEO of ReFiBuy.ai and Co-Founder of ChannelAdvisor as they discuss the latest news and trends in the world of e-commerce and digital shopper marketing.

EP326 - Are Retail Media Networks Mid?

EP326 - Are Retail Media Networks Mid? Happy Fathers Day! In our previous episode (326) Jason made a comment about retail media networks sometimes being over-hyped. In response, Scot recruited all his friendsd in the the industry and inticed Kiri Masters to make a rebutle. Which she did via two part linked-in post and a podcast. So in this episode Jason doubles down and defends his position on retail media networks. In addition to covering the state of retail media networks, Scot introduces his new Retailgentic sub-stack which everyone should subscribe to, and give a listen to his new video podcast focused on the latest Agentic Commerce news. Don't forget to like our facebook page, and if you enjoyed this episode please write us a review on itunes. Episode 325 of the Jason & Scot show was recorded on Friday. June 6th.   http://jasonandscot.com Join your hosts Jason "Retailgeek" Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Publicis, and Scot Wingo, CEO of GetSpiffy and Co-Founder of ChannelAdvisor as they discuss the latest news and trends in the world of e-commerce and digital shopper marketing.