EP76: Shopify struggles, slower sales, big black friday cyber monday ecom lessons

In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer, formally Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma’s Pride) break down everything that happened across Black Friday and Cyber Monday and what it means for the future of eCommerce. From Shopify’s massive sales spike to unexpected wins in new customer acquisition, the crew digs into the consumer behavior shifts, platform performance issues, and emerging trends shaping the next wave of digital retail.

What you’ll learn:

• How Shopify handled BFCM including the sales surge and the technical issues merchants felt
• Why buy now, pay later continues to influence conversions (and the hidden risks most brands ignore)
• How AI is changing product research, shopping behaviors, and traffic quality
• Why AppLovin is quietly becoming a serious challenger to Meta for customer acquisition
• How retail expectations differ by channel and why brands must innovate faster
• What AI means for SEO, marketplaces, and the future barriers to entry in eCommerce
• The team’s predictions for where digital commerce is headed next
  

If you’re trying to understand how AI and consumer behavior will reshape the industry, this episode gives you a sharp, actionable breakdown of what’s happening now and what’s coming.

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Big shoutout to our sponsor who makes this podcast possible!

Omnisend — With 125,000+ eCommerce merchants, Omnisend is the all-in-one email & SMS marketing platform built to deliver seamless, personalized experiences via email and sms with ease. Learn more at https://www.omnisend.com/

Subscribe at https://asompod.com

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00:00 Teaser Trailer

00:24 Welcome to the ASOM Pod

00:53 Discussing Black Friday and Cyber Monday

02:27 Amazon's Strategy and Consumer Behavior

03:57 Black Friday Product Launches and Consumer Trends

12:57 Retail Experiences and Consumer Preferences

18:44 Shopify's Performance and Technical Issues

34:20 Buy Now, Pay Later Trends

36:14 Merchant Fees and Payment Structures

36:40 Buy Now, Pay Later Risks and Benefits

40:07 AI's Impact on eCommerce Traffic

42:50 SEO and AI: The New Frontier

46:46 AppLovin vs. Meta: A Data Comparison

53:56 Black Friday and Cyber Monday Insights

01:04:52 Predictions for the Future of eCommerce

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