Podcast
The Commerce Collective Podcast
Hosted by Flywheel Digital · EN
Whether you're on your first venture into the commerce world or you've been navigating the digital marketplace since 'shopping cart' meant a trip to the grocery store, this is the podcast for you.
Every episode our Host Emma Irwin and her revolving panel of industry experts dive into the latest strategies, tools and insights to drive performance across the largest commerce platforms with content spanning the entire commerce ecosystem.
Commerce is a rapidly evolving industry, and Flywheel's Commerce Collective podcast is here to provide the knowledge and resources needed to stay ahead of the curve. Subscribe now to elevate your commerce mastery, impress your peers, and have fun along the way.
46episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The ultimate playbook for scaling creator-driven sales on TikTok Shop
Mar 1600:32:17Summary readyWhat does it actually take to grow on TikTok Shop? In this episode, Deren Baker, CEO of Flywheel Ventures, explains why brands need to treat TikTok Shop as a creator-led sales channel, not just another social platform or traditional marketplace. He breaks down how to match the right products, creators, and content to the way people shop in-feed, and why that shift is critical for turning views into real, profitable growth. To go deeper, download TikTok Shop Unlocked: The ultimate brand playbook for turning views into profitable growth.
SummaryThis Month Above the Fold - performance versus transparency, industry signals from The Trade Desk, & LLM measurement
Mar 500:19:37Summary readyIn this episode, Emma and Patrick break down three pressure points every brand should be watching. First, they tackle the performance vs. transparency tradeoff in media buying. What's the balance between log‑level data and control, chasing opaque performance, and using transparency to actually change how and where you buy?Then they unpack The Trade Desk’s latest earnings and what its slowdown (and supply‑side growth elsewhere) signal about where spend is shifting across DSPs, CTV, and the open internet.Finally, they dig into the rush of vendors promising “LLM performance” measurement, covering how pricing is already collapsing, how little real differentiation there is, and how brands should approach contracts, trust, and experimentation in this new category.
SummaryPowering incremental off‑platform media with Instacart’s unique data and audiences
Feb 1600:25:17Summary readyOff‑platform doesn’t have to mean more complexity. Emma is joined by Instacart’s Head of Off-platform Strategy, Adam Silverblatt, to break down how brands can use Instacart’s first‑party data beyond Instacart.com. This looks like building high‑intent audiences, activating them via partners like The Trade Desk, Roku, Pinterest, and TikTok, and closing the loop with sales measurement. They dig into what makes Instacart’s audiences truly incremental, how to avoid double‑paying for the same shoppers, and what brands should be asking every retail media network about incrementality and accountability.
SummaryThis Month Above the Fold w/ Patrick Miller - Amazon's "agents versus AWS" strategy, Walmart's AI and assortment bets, & Amazon's grocery pivot
Feb 200:19:58Summary readyIn this month’s episode, Emma and Patrick unpack what Andy Jassy’s AI comments really mean for where Amazon is betting on growth in his recent "The Information" interview, and how that could reshape the tools brands get for search, ads, and measurement. Next, they dig into Walmart’s latest AI moves with Gemini and the challenge of who owns shopper traffic, as well as highlight areas where Walmart is set up for growth. To close it out, they break down Amazon’s decision to shut down Go and Fresh stores and double down on Whole Foods and online grocery delivery, and what that means for your assortment, trade terms, and supply chain. You’ll walk away with a clearer view of where the big platforms are headed next, and what your brand should start changing now so you’re not playing catch‑up in 12–18 months.
SummaryBuilding for commerce growth now and in the future w/ Jason O'Toole of Hanesbrands
Jan 1900:20:33Summary readyIn this episode, Emma and Jason O’Toole (Head of Connected Commerce at Hanesbrands) dive into the evolving world of commerce strategy. They cover everything from building commerce-focused organizational structures to the unique challenges of selling apparel online. You’ll hear how Hanesbrands approaches SKU complexity, 3P competition, and brand protection, plus how they’re building connected commerce teams to meet the demands of today’s omnichannel landscape. Jason also shares his perspective on the agency of the future, and why adaptability matters more than ever.
SummaryHow to turn Flywheel Retail Insights’ digital trends for 2026 into an action plan
Jan 1300:36:01Summary readyDigital commerce is shifting fast, and ten big “trends to prepare for” can feel overwhelming. In this conversation, Emma and Hannah Donoghue (SVP, Commerce Intelligence at Flywheel) walk through Flywheel Retail Insights’ “Digital Trends to prepare for in 2026” report and translate it into concrete next steps. From agentic commerce and data clean rooms to value cycles, private label pressure, consolidation, and CTV, Hannah explains what changed, why it matters now, and how to build a focused 2026 plan instead of chasing every headline.Read the full "Digital Trends to prepare for in 2026" report here.
SummaryThis Month Above the Fold w/ Patrick Miller - Black Friday/Cyber Monday, ChatGPT, the Warner Bros. deal, & 2025 highlights
Dec 1700:15:59Summary readyIn this episode, Emma Irwinand Patrick Miller close out the year by unpacking Black Friday Cyber Monday fatigue and how Amazon's asynchronous basket building and robust supply chain stand out. They dig into ChatGPT and Google Gemini, analyzing what truly has time, signal, and points of distribution, and how retailer partnerships with LLMs will shape shopping. Lastly, they cover what the potential Netflix x Warner Brothers deal means for consumers and advertisers. As a bonus, Patrick also names his retailer of the year, the most overrated story, and the one thing advertisers should leave behind in 2025.
SummaryFrom powerless to proactive: How brands can own the AI search revolution w/ Mike O'Donnell
Dec 900:24:57Summary readyIn this episode, Emma sits down with Mike O’Donnell, SVP Innovation and Business Transformation at Flywheel, to break down the real impact of AI-powered search on consumer behavior and brand strategy. Mike shares why consumers are embracing generative tools like Amazon’s Rufus, how brands can adapt their content and measurement strategies for the new world of AI search, and what mass personalization means for the future of commerce. The conversation covers why consistent product data matters more than ever, how clean rooms and AI are unlocking audience-led advertising, and what Flywheel is building to help brands move from channel-based thinking to true return on consumer. Packed with practical insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to stay ahead in the evolving commerce landscape.Read the white paper, "From powerless to proactive: How brands can own the AI search revolution" here.
SummaryBehind the metrics: A framework for measuring advertising effectiveness with the Amazon Ads' Analytics & Insights team
Nov 2400:29:01Summary readyWhat’s the real impact of your advertising - and how do you know when you’ve reached the point of diminishing returns? In this episode, Emma sits down with Iñigo Gutierrez Fernandez, Analytics & Insights Associate Principal at Amazon Ads, for a behind-the-scenes look at the science powering smarter budget decisions.Iñigo unpacks Amazon’s holistic measurement framework, from pinpointing the “tipping point” for ad efficiency, to understanding both immediate and long-term campaign impact, and even tracking omnichannel results through the Amazon Shopper Panel. You’ll learn how to move beyond guesswork and use data to identify when your investment is working, which channels drive lasting value, and how to build a strategy that fits your brand’s goals.
Summary
Live from Amazon unBoxed 2025: What's New In Measurement, AI, and Reporting with Amazon Ads' Paula Despins
Nov 2000:19:54Tap to summarizeEvery brand wants to drive stronger results - and truly understand what’s behind them. In this episode, we’re live from unBoxed at the Partner Content Studio with Paula Despins, VP of Campaign Measurement, Planning, and AMC, for an inside look at Amazon’s latest launches that are transforming campaign development, optimization, and measurement. Amazon's new Ads Agent empowers advertisers to build smarter audiences and campaigns, and democratizes access to AMC insights that further help understand what's driving real growth for your business.
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