After more than two-and-a-half years and nearly 300 episodes of uninterrupted commerce content, we’re taking a brief pause. Stephanie and the team behind Up Next in Commerce is busy cooking up some fun and exciting ideas for our next season of the show, and while that’s happening, we’ll be pushing pause on releasing new episodes. But we’ll be back, and we want to hear from you about what you want to see and hear when we return! So get in touch by emailing info@mission.org. And in the meantime, you can keep up with Stephanie by listening to the Mission Daily podcast!

Sustainability and consciousness are often seen as buzzwords coming from ecommerce companies. But for those who build their businesses around doing right in the world, these terms are nothing short of foundational. In this episode, Jeff Scult, founder of sustainable retailer One Golden Thread, discusses how his company’s process gives more back to nature then it takes to create the products in its wildly popular clothing line.

Although it may seem like Chomps has been an overnight success, behind the scenes there has been a lot of hard work, risky bets, and beneficial partnerships that has helped elevate the brand. On this episode, Pete Maldonado, the Co-founder and CEO of Chomps and Stacy Hartnett, the Vice President, E-Commerce & Marketing at Chomps, discuss how the company was bootstrapped, and how it has scaled through both retail and online platforms.

Before she became the VP of Ecommerce and Marketing at Pharmaca, Elizabeth Garry cut her teeth in the digital and marketing world at brands such as Wayfair, Walmart, and Camping World. In this episode, Liz shares with us the lessons she’s learned along the way, including how to vet a potential manager to see whether they have your best interests at heart, and what it looks like to create success as a team.

When a company is as large as AT&T and has a legacy that dates back nearly 150 years, you might think that it’s difficult for the brand to adapt and innovate. Maryanne Cheung, the VP of ecommerce at AT&T, is here to tell you you’re wrong. On this episode, she details all the ways that AT&T has been able to change with the times in order to serve today’s more digitally-focused customers.

The DTC world is forever shifting and evolving. Staying on top of changing trends and best practices takes work. We try to make that easier for you by sharing insights from experts throughout the industry. Today, we’re doubling our efforts by speaking with fellow podcast host Eric Dyck, who is the founder and CEO of DTC Newsletter and host of DTC Podcast. Eric shares his latest findings and gives some tips on how to win with newsletters and content marketing.

Shinola is a lifestyle brand that partners with family businesses and iconic brands to showcase a wide range of American-designed products. Which means the company has to know how (and where) to continually reach all segments of an ever-growing audience. Joel Layton, the VP, Head of Ecommerce, Digital & Marketing for Shinola discusses what that looks like.

In an innovative move, Scott Lynn, CEO and Founder of Masterworks, democratized art investing by registering art pieces with the SEC and selling shares to investors. The first company of its kind, Masterworks is now a major art dealer with more than 600,000 investors on its platform. Scott dives into the future of art investing, the historical data the company analyzes, and how to determine which art pieces will perform.

In an effort to fight off a debilitating autoimmune disorder that struck him years ago, Kevin McCray turned to a strict Paleo diet free of gluten, refined sugars, and soy. It was a decision that would spark a truly inspirational and wildly successful entrepreneurial mission. The President and Co-founder of the healthy prepackaged meal company Kevin’s Natural Foods joins us to talk about how his clean-eating lifestyle took him from the hospital bed to spearheading a brand that can now be found in some of the largest retail stores across the country.

What do Apple Pay, WhatsApp, and Crypto have in common? They are all preferred channels of payment and messaging that customers may prefer to use. Michael Affronti, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Payments and Messaging at Salesforce, shares his perspective on how companies should evolve their options for communication and payments to build better, more personalized relationships with their customers.

How do successful CPG companies build a following? Nick Saltarelli, Co-founder of Mid-Day Squares, shares how he and his partners “celebritized” themselves through an Instagram reality show to break into the chocolate industry. He dives into social media strategy, building a fanbase that asks grocery stores to stock their products, and fighting back against attacks.

On this special end-of-year crossover episode, the hosts from Up Next in Commerce, Marketing Trends, and IT Visionaries meet up again to discuss their biggest takeaways from their guests over the past year, and to make some predictions for what should be an exciting 2023 in marketing, tech, and ecommerce.

As instant commerce becomes increasingly popular, how can consumers rely on products being in stock? Daniel Folkman, SVP of Business at Gopuff, explains that with more than 500 micro fulfillment centers, Gopuff can guarantee delivery of its stocked products as the customer builds their order. Listen to the episode to learn more about how Gopuff is leading experiments on sample feedback data for advertisers and how the company is staying ahead of its competitors.

How do you build a socially-conscious product business within a competitive market? Mike Beckham, CEO and Cofounder, Simple Modern, shares his experience as a founder, diving into finding and protecting white space in the market, building brand loyalty and creating a great culture.

How can an ecommerce brand serve middle to low-income African consumers, even those that are offline or lack access to technology? Tracey Turner, Founder and Chair of Copia Global, is bringing e-commerce to the mass market in Africa and dives into the details of their approach. She shares the logistics of their unique model, how they have built consumer trust and insights into the market across Africa.

What should companies be most concerned with in this era of commerce? Lena Korres, Co-Founder and CIO at KORRES, explains the importance of keeping production sustainable so consumers can feel good about the products they’re using. Tune in to learn more about how natural ingredients not only benefit the consumer, but also the companies that produce skincare.

With so many new commerce options available, what avenues can companies explore to reach more consumers? Vassil Mladjov, Board Member at Tallio, shares his thoughts on the growth of live stream shopping and how it is becoming a more prevalent way to purchase products online. Also, tune in to hear how collecting user data can help provide an optimal consumer experience, breaking boundaries within e-commerce opportunities.

How did an alcoholic beverage company manage to reach nationwide distribution without a single dollar spent on marketing? Nick Califano, the COO of the hard tea and canned cocktail maker Loverboy, joins us to discuss the unique journey that propelled the company from reality TV scene-stealer to retail shelves across the country.

Unconventional health treatments like cryotherapy and infrared sauna baths are not exactly known for their affordability. One rapidly growing company, however, is transforming the wellness landscape by democratizing access to such cutting-edge health services. With over 175 locations across the country, Restore Hyper Wellness is quickly bringing its holistic healthcare approach to the mainstream. Tune in to hear Restore CEO and Founder Jim Donnelly and CMO David Fossas discuss the joys and challenges of operating within a franchise model, and why they are committed to making health and wellness treatments safe, fun, and affordable.

How do you make a popular Asian product thrive in the U.S. market? Irvin Gunawan, Founder and CEO of Irvins, shares his experience building a snack food brand out of their restaurant in Singapore and later bringing these products to the U.S, introducing Americans to a new snacking sensation. Tune in to hear about the company’s backstory and what Irvin learned from this unique expansion.