Host James Avery welcomes serial entrepreneur Scot Wingo to dissect the rapid rise of Agentic Commerce and its imminent impact on Retail Media Networks (RMNs). Wingo, the founder of Channel Advisor, explains how large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Perplexity have evolved from simple search tools to "answer engines" and full-bore marketplaces, completing the "research, find, and buy" shopper's journey. They explore how this shift bypasses traditional retailer websites, threatening RMN ad revenue, especially since companies like Walmart are embracing the direct checkout model as a customer acquisition channel. Wingo offers a "call to action" for retailers, advising them not to ignore the trend , and details how RMNs must elevate the user experience, fix their broken product catalogs, and rethink ad strategies to be additive, drawing inspiration from Instacart's successful, coupon-driven model.
In this episode, James Avery and Matt Nichols discuss the evolving landscape of retail media, investment trends, and the impact of AI on consumer behavior. They explore how retail media has grown significantly, especially post-COVID, and the importance of integrating AI into retail strategies. The conversation also touches on supply chain innovations and the future of shopping, particularly in relation to Amazon's dominance in the market.
Retail media success hinges on giving brands what they truly need: measurable, incremental sales growth. This episode of Unlocking Retail Media with expert Mark Mannino—from VidMob, Amazon Ads, and Flywheel—focuses on strategic RMN packaging and measurement. Key takeaways include moving beyond simple ROAS to prioritize incremental ROAS and new-to-brand metrics. Retailers must clarify how they handle omnichannel attribution and utilize unique first-party data for both onsite and offsite targeting. To scale, smaller RMNs should adopt programmatic practices, like Private Marketplaces (PMPs), to attract demand without becoming commoditized, and all networks must operate with the primary rule: "first do no harm" to the core customer relationship.
In this conversation, James Avery and Mark Grether discuss the innovative advertising strategies being developed at PayPal, leveraging unique transaction data to create a differentiated advertising business. They explore the challenges faced by retail media networks, the importance of measurement and incrementality, and the future of commerce media in the context of AI advancements. Mark shares insights on the growth strategies for retailers and the significance of maintaining consumer relationships in an evolving digital landscape.