Ecomm Cowboy

Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.• The hottest ecommerce jobs and where top operators are moving• A live interview with Matty Martin, Head of Marketing at Cadence on premium hydration, endurance athletes, and brand positioning• How brands should be designing content for shareability, not just views• The rise of viral stunts, AI‑generated UGC, and where authenticity still wins• Why HIMS new Super Bowl ad ties health, wealth, and longevity together• Live product taste test of The Outgoing Co.'s formulaWeekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

From learning how to sell to women the right way, to why trust, clarity, and creativity matter more than hacks. We cover:- Why most brands misunderstand female buying psychology- How great brands evolve beyond their original product category- The difference between credibility and hype in wellness & fitness- Why creators, IRL experiences, and authenticity are winning again- Hard lessons from real operators (including expensive mistakes)- What founders need to focus on as AI changes everythingA deep dive with Eric Bandholz (Beardbrand) on brand evolution and identity in DTC. And insights from Max Grantham on running an email marketing agency in 2026.Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

We cover why Sydney Sweeney’s SYRN is getting dragged on the internet and it may not matter whatsoever, how Liquid Death is winning by making fun of advertising itself, and why brands that rely on one platform are playing a dangerous game.- Why resale (ReRhone) is becoming a margin recovery strategy, not just a sustainability play- What Gen Z’s changing relationship with work means for brands and teams- Why “anti-ads,” culture, and creative throughput matter more than ever- And how B2B ecommerce looks different from DTC, and what DTC operators can learn from itWe’re also joined by Isaiah Bollinger, host of The Hard Truth About B2B Ecommerce and SVP at Zaelab, to talk manufacturing, distribution, destination events, and how real commerce actually works behind the scenes.Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

We’re digging into why TikTok users are deleting the app, what the sudden rise of alternatives like Skylight really signals (and what it doesn’t), and why moments like the Lego × Crocs collab show how culture now moves faster than media plans.We’re also sitting down with Colin McGuire to talk real operator lessons: building BOOMN, mentoring next‑gen founders, choosing hard categories on purpose, and how he already hit his 2026 business goals by going all‑in on execution.CHAPTERS0:01:54 Show intro + today’s rundown (Lego x Crocs, Tecovas SB ad, Claude for creative, TikTok churn, Colin McGuire interview)0:04:34 Lego x Crocs collab: why “weird” sells and how Crocs keeps winning0:10:14 TikTok uninstalls + Skylight surge: real signal or temporary turbulence0:13:03 AMP (Lifetimely: CAC/LTV + P&L dashboard clarity)0:14:39 Colin McGuire joins: BOOMN origin story + how Glimmer went from TikTok Shop to Target0:20:52 The new arbitrage: CAC→LTV economics + why “brick and click” is the real edge0:24:52 Retail reality check: what it actually takes to get retail-ready and win the pilot0:28:42 Influencers as long-term assets: multi-year creator deals + why that compounds0:31:32 Honest Company shuts down DTC: why big brands are walking away from the DTC grind0:37:22 Where to reach Colin + BOOMN (and why he’s still testing new ad channels)0:39:24 Post-interview recap: retail endpoints, LTV thinking, and the “2026 playbook” shift0:46:49 Seguno (Shopify-native email suite + extended trial mention)0:48:19 Tecovas Super Bowl ad reaction + your pitch: turn it into a short-form “Friday Night Lights x Landman” series0:58:26 Claude as your creative strategist: upload platform docs, score creative against the system1:01:44 Postscript (SMS focus + benchmarks link)1:03:31 Glassdoor as an investment predictor: culture as a leading indicator1:06:02 Nike cutting 750+ jobs “due to automation”: what’s really going on + messaging problem1:10:18 Nate Lagos whiskey content: outrage economics, repeatable templates, and creator growth loops1:12:18 Wrap: save Alex’s article for tomorrow + thanks to sponsors + sign-offWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

We start with TikTok’s new ownership getting off to a rocky start, why creator and advertiser confidence matters more than competition, and how even small moments of uncertainty can fracture momentum inside the most influential culture engine on the internet.From there, we dig into the State of Email in 2026 with Jimmy Kim — including what Gmail’s AI inbox means for deliverability, relevance, and retention, and why email isn’t dying, but getting filtered harder than ever. The brands that survive aren’t louder — they’re clearer.We then break down OpenAI’s emerging ad model — paying for impressions instead of clicks — and why this signals a shift away from performance mechanics toward presence, trust, and context inside AI‑native environments. If AI becomes the thinking layer, what does attribution even mean anymore?Other stories we cover:- Why Valentine’s Day is no longer just for couples — self‑gifting and platonic spending are now core behavior- YouTube’s Demand Gen drop, shoppable CTV, and dynamic QR codes — and why the big screen is quietly becoming a checkout lane- What Paramount+ topping the App Store tells us about long‑form, comfort content, and attention fatigue- And why 2026 feels a lot like 2016 again — Gen Z nostalgia, simpler aesthetics, fewer platforms, and a growing desire for a more human internetThroughout the show, we connect the dots between automation, monetization, and culture — and why brands that keep optimizing for clicks may panic, while brands that earn trust quietly compound.Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

We break down reports that ChatGPT could take a 4% cut of Shopify merchant purchases, why Google always wanted this but never pulled it off, and what it means if AI becomes the front door to checkout — not just discovery.We also dig into TikTok’s new Smart+ AI campaigns, why platforms are pushing marketers toward automation and black boxes, and who actually wins when judgment gets replaced by inputs.On the culture side, we talk about:- The Unplugging of Gen‑Alpha and why analog childhoods are becoming a real trend- Why BuzzBallz’ $35K engagement ring is a culture hack, not a product- Mehtab’s marketing calendar hackThen we sit down with Dave Stickland, co‑founder of Popsmith, for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about retail:- Why landing Costco was a mistake- The real cost of prestige and “omnichannel too early”- How to use retail as R&D instead of validation- And what “bougie shite for the aristocrats” looks like in 2026 and beyondWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

We break down TikTok’s new off‑site performance tracking and why it’s a signal that attribution, halo effect, and downstream sales are now table stakes for big budgets. We talk about Fulfilled by TikTok, why it feels incredibly convenient, and why it should also make brands a little uncomfortable.We cover:- TikTok’s push to measure the Halo Effect beyond the app- Why Haus’ research shows affection still drives performance before attribution- What happens when platforms own discovery and fulfillment- Nate’s move from watches to supplements, and why copy and positioning break before ads ever do- How category shifts expose whether you actually understand persuasion- ByteDance launching a Netflix‑style competitor and what it signals for brand‑owned mediaWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyAMP - ⁠https://postscript.io/sms-benchmarks?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboySeguno - https://www.seguno.com/?utm_source=Ecomm+Cowboy+Show&utm_medium=Show&utm_campaign=Ad+Read&utm_id=Ecomm+CowboyFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Commerce is changing layers — fast. Discovery is shifting away from who pays the most and toward who actually fits. Agents don’t care about CPMs. They care about relevance, taste, and context.In today’s livestream, we break down what that means for brands, creators, and operators as:- Visual search becomes vibe‑coded- Agentic commerce introduces “merit‑based shopping”- Paid discovery starts losing its grip on the decision layer- Brands built on spend get exposed — and brands built on relevance get rewardedWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Today we’re breaking down what it actually means now that ChatGPT is getting ads, why AI agents are quietly replacing workflows, and why a lot of what people think is “authentic content” is about to stop working.On today’s livestream:- Why ChatGPT ads are less like Google Search — and more like Amazon recommendations.- What happens when execution becomes cheap, infinite, and automated.- Why “raw” content is no longer a moat in an AI world.- How agents are already running pieces of real businesses.- Why taste, judgment, and clarity are becoming the only defensible advantages.- And why brands that feel human are pulling away while everyone else argues about formats.We’re also joined by Kyle Hency (Chubbies → GoodDay).Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Marketing, ecommerce, and media are colliding faster than most brands are ready for. Today’s show breaks down why legacy retailers are hiring Hollywood execs, why brands now need studios instead of campaigns, how AI is collapsing the cost of content, and why trust, authenticity, and owned relationships are becoming the only real moat. If you’re a founder, operator, or marketer trying to understand where attention, commerce, and culture are actually headed — this episode is for you.- Gap hiring a Chief Entertainment Officer and what it signals about brands becoming media companies- Why brands need in‑house studios to compete in a real‑time, culture‑driven world- AI video reaching the point where we can’t tell what’s real anymore — and what that breaks (and creates)- An in‑depth conversation with Adam Turner, CEO of Postscript, on SMS, AI, and one‑to‑one commerce- Why entertainment beats instruction, from airline safety videos to TikTok Shop chaos- The reality of subscription fatigue and what consumers actually want now- How limited, culture‑first collaborations (like Bridgerton x Jeni’s) outperform mass appeal- What all of this says about the future of ecommerce, marketing, and jobsWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Welcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - https://⁠postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/0q1Pp0rW8j6cehXToNTeJchttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ecomm-cowboy/id1761749693

Live from Austin on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 — we dig into the “SaaS is dying” discourse and why the real story is pricing power collapsing (AI + lower technical barriers = the middle tier gets smoked). We react to Cody Schneider’s “we cloned the vendor in 3 weeks” tweet, talk why security + SOC2 is the real line in the sand, and use Apple’s new $12.99/mo Creator Studio as the loudest signal yet that incumbents (looking at you, Adobe) are about to feel pain.Then we pivot to DTC survival mode: Popsmith’s Dave Stickland says the quiet part out loud — you can’t win cheap, so make “bougie” products people want to show off (Delta’s premium revenue proves the economy is bifurcating). We hit the counterpoint too (Costco + Arizona Tea = emotional trust via stubborn pricing), then David Herrman joins to break down the Meta delivery/LPV chaos, what to do when your CPA jumps 40–60% overnight, and where real scale is showing up beyond Meta (AppLovin, Pinterest-as-awareness, and YouTube Shorts). We close with the “human is luxury” thesis (Miller Lite vs. AI slop), Van Man’s restaurant-as-marketing weapon, and Canva’s 2026 design trends: imperfect by design.0:03:20 Is SaaS dying… or just getting cheaper? (Cody Schneider + “build it in 3 weeks” thesis)0:10:57 Apple Creator Studio $12.99/mo — price pressure on Adobe + “SaaS moat” debate0:15:12 “Sell bougie sh*t” — Popsmith lesson + Delta’s premium profit math0:22:59 Counterpoint: Arizona Tea + Costco — consistency, trust, and loss leaders0:28:31 E.l.f on Roblox — brand planting vs PR bait (and why it might still work)0:31:22 David Herman joins — Meta outage fallout0:54:42 Brand stance wars: Equinox vs Miller Lite — “human is the new luxury”0:58:30 Being small is a superpower: VanMan’s “tribe” strategy1:02:44 2026 design trends (Canva): “Imperfect by design” + what it signals1:05:50 Wrap — key takeaways + tomorrow’s guest lineupWelcome to DTC’s daily show — what’s now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive. Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.ioAMP - https://useamp.comFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboy

Live from Austin, Texas on Monday, January 12, 2026 (yes, the on-mic day call is a little chaotic) — today’s episode is basically a white-collar fire drill. We break down Claude Code / “co-work” and why AI just crossed the line from “assistant” to “worker replacer,” and what that means for marketers and operators who still think execution alone is a moat. Colin and Carson riff on the one-person brand era, the “become unfireable” playbook (taste + judgment + tool mastery), and why “go-to AI guy” is the new internal superpower.Then we shift into internet-attention economics: David Protein’s Julia Fox campaign and the “interesting vs classy” debate (you can get attention without nuking your brand ethos… or can you?). We close with Google’s Direct Offers in AI Mode — Google as your negotiator — and why system-to-system commerce (my agent sells to your agent) is going to torch lazy discount strategy unless your pricing discipline is tight.0:04:08 Cloud Code changes white-collar work0:12:01 Everyone can build now0:17:30 David Protein controversy0:24:36 Google Direct Offers = AI salesperson0:32:37 Bar Bruhis joins0:36:57 DTSki explained0:44:52 Building BoostCous (CPG from scratch)0:47:51 Live taste test + Brand of the Week0:58:32 Who controls ads in 2026?1:03:36 Final takeaways + one-man brand futureWelcome to Ecom Cowboy — what’s now/next in ecommerce so marketers and operators can survive and thrive in 2026. Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possible by:Postscript - https://postscript.io/AMP - https://useamp.com/Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboyhttps://www.youtube.com/@ecommcowboy

Live from Austin on Monday, January 12, 2026 - We cover a weekend-loaded slate: Shopify and Google co-develop the Universal Commerce Protocol so AI agents can buy anywhere (open by default, even if you’re not on Shopify), Nike accidentally-or-on-purpose lands in another history-making moment, and Dan McCormick drops a Create Creatine year-in-review that screams “category is mainstreaming” as they flip from losing money to profitable with Amazon + retail expansion. Then we bring on NotZaneAgain to talk TikTok Shop reality for 2026—where it works (price point + categories), where it doesn’t, what “halo effect” actually means, and the spy tools (FastMoss / Kalodata) behind those viral screenshots. We close with Josh Suggs, the Gary V of street-talk ads, on building a 55-person street interview machine, why you can’t script authenticity, and why the brands making the biggest anti-AI bet might win.0:01:52 Intro + today’s lineup0:02:26 Shopify + Google launch Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP)0:03:51 NotZaneAgain joins (TikTok Shop 0→1)0:23:44 Nike makes world history again (the “lucky vs good” debate)0:31:38 Josh Suggs joins (The Gary Vee of Street Interviews)0:51:47 Universal Commerce Protocol deep dive + Shopify vs Stripe ACP0:57:46 Create Creatine year in review (225% growth, retail + Amazon, profitable)1:03:05 What’s coming this week + wrapWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive. Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - ⁠https://postscript.io⁠AMP - ⁠https://useamp.com⁠Follow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboy

Live from Austin on Friday, January 9, 2026 - We break down the AppLovin “love fest” (and why it might be the first real crack in the Meta/Google duopoly for DTC), react to David Herrman’s practical playbook for making the channel work, and dig into FERMAT CEO Rishabh Jain's controversial hiring guardrail on job hoppers (why it stings, and where the nuance actually is). Then Taylor Holiday joins for the second half with 2026 bold predictions: AI breaking brand guidelines, why “creative strategy” is mostly pseudoscience, what real branding actually means, and why the endgame of creative volume is basically IRL/live content. We close with a quick hit on Bieber’s new shoe drop and a slightly unhinged “gray hat” search tactic that might be genius or chaos.0:01:54 Intro + today’s lineup0:04:01 AppLovin love fest + David Herrman’s playbook0:13:33 Rishabh’s hiring guardrail + job-hopper debate0:24:29 PostScript (SMS benchmarks)0:26:10 Taylor Holiday, CEO of Common Thread Collective, joins0:30:12 AI breaks brand guidelines + “creative strategy” is pseudoscience0:36:16 What branding actually means (Kalo + CrossFit)0:44:13 IRL/live content + “Truman Show brands”0:50:36 Events + entertainment budget + new revenue streams0:58:42 AMP + know your numbers (scale with confidence)1:01:05 Bieber shoe drop + gray-hat search tactic1:03:19 Wrap + outroWelcome to DTC's daily show — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive. Weekly newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/Made possibly by:Postscript - postscript.ioAMP - useamp.comFollow Ecomm Cowboy:https://x.com/ecommcowboyhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ecommcowboyhttps://www.instagram.com/ecommcowboy/https://www.tiktok.com/@ecommcowboy

DTC's daily show | Live weekdays at 12pm (CST) — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

DTC's daily show | Live weekdays at 12pm (CST) — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

DTC's daily show | Live weekdays at 12pm (CST) — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

DTC's daily show | Live weekdays at 12pm (CST) — what's now/next in ecommerce so marketers can survive and thrive.Newsletter: https://newsletter.ecommcowboy.com/

In this conversation, Chris Hall and Colin Dougherty discuss the recent trends and insights from Black Friday and Cyber Monday, focusing on the rise of Buy Now Pay Later services, economic concerns, and consumer behavior. They also delve into Shopify's performance, the impact of inflation on spending, and the future of advertising, particularly live shopping. The discussion highlights the role of AI in e-commerce and marketing, as well as new product launches and market strategies.TakeawaysBuy Now Pay Later services saw a significant rise in usage, especially among younger millennials.Economic concerns are growing as more consumers rely on financing options for everyday purchases.Shopify faced challenges during Cyber Monday, but overall performance remained strong.Record spending during Black Friday was influenced by inflation and price increases rather than a surge in purchases.Live shopping is emerging as a key opportunity for brands to engage consumers directly.AI technology is transforming e-commerce, enabling brands to create high-quality marketing materials quickly and affordably.The concept of the 'one man brand' is becoming more feasible with advancements in AI and technology.New product launches, like Groons' pre-workout gummies, reflect the ambition of brands to expand their offerings.The importance of clear branding and messaging is crucial for consumer understanding and engagement.The future of advertising will likely involve more interactive and engaging formats, such as live shopping.Chapters00:00 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Insights05:03 The Rise of Buy Now Pay Later Services09:17 Economic Disparities and Consumer Behavior11:42 Shopify's Performance and User Experience17:50 Record Spending and Inflation Concerns23:45 The Future of Advertising and Live Shopping26:32 The Rise of Live Shopping31:03 Interactive Selling Strategies35:03 AI in E-commerce: A Game Changer41:11 Innovations in Supplement Delivery