Episode 8: Building a Commerce Experience Agency with Brian Grady, CEO of Gorilla Group

05/21/20 • 32 min

“Five or six years ago, there were a bunch of folks that took a chance in the B2B space and really tried to change their business models to be more digital and commerce-focused, but there's still a fair amount of holdouts...and I think [COVID-19] is going to light a fire underneath them.” Brian Walker has the pleasure of speaking to Brian Grady, CEO of Gorilla Group, one of the industry’s fastest-growing commerce experience agencies. Following a successful career with various technology leaders in the industry, Brian acquired Gorilla in 2008 when it was a small Chicago-based development shop. Since then, Brian has grown the agency into a team of over 370 employees working across 4 countries, with a cumulative 9-year growth rate of 945%. In this episode, Brian and his guest share notes on some of the most pressing topics in digital commerce today, including: - Why the COVID-19 crisis has dramatically accelerated B2B digital commerce and what that means for the industry as a whole. - The top considerations for B2B digital experiences beyond the point of transaction, what customers want to see and how business models need to evolve in response. - How the current travel restrictions will change the face of eCommerce consulting and talent acquisition forever. Whether you focus on B2B, B2C or straddle both, this episode is jam-packed with valuable strategic advice on navigating the digital economy in the current economic climate. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch at https://www.bloomreach.com/en/about/contact-us. To learn more about Brian, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-grady-079a552/. To learn more about Gorilla, visit https://www.gorillagroup.com/.

Previous Episode

Episode 7: Prost! Digital Commerce in Germany with Founder of diva-e, Sirko Schneppe

“If [B2B companies] go online, they can enter markets where they’ve never been before and there are a lot of markets demanding online experiences from them right now.” In today’s episode, Brian speaks with Sirko Schneppe, Founder and Managing Director of diva-e - Germany’s largest independent eCommerce agency. With over 20 years of experience under his belt, Sirko is undoubtedly one of the industry’s most distinguished leaders. Throughout this conversation, Sirko shares his wealth of experience and lessons learned from the German eCommerce landscape, including: - How COVID-19 is going to result in a seismic shift in the German marketplace, working practices and consumer behavior, where traditional retail chains and physical cash still dominate. - Why Germany’s eCommerce industry relies heavily on B2B companies - the so-called hidden champions – and the opportunities this presents for other businesses looking to enter the market. - How the role of consultancies will evolve to help companies implement their digital transformation programs. This episode is filled with valuable insights and gives you a unique European viewpoint on the changing face of eCommerce. If you’re looking to expand your operations into Germany or other central European markets, this episode is a must-listen. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch at https://www.bloomreach.com/en/about/contact-us. To learn more about Sirko, check out his LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirkoschneppe/. To learn more about diva-e, please visit https://www.diva-e.com/en/.

Next Episode

Episode 9: Mastering the Amazon Marketplace with Kiri Masters, Founder & CEO of Bobsled Marketing

“I think that retailers need to do two things. One is developing their own private label brand [...] and then the other piece is to look at building their own marketplace.” Today’s episode of ‘The State of Commerce Experience’ takes a closer look at the Amazon marketplace, with Kiri Masters, Founder & CEO of Bobsled Marketing and a leading authority on all things Amazon. While building a successful career as a commercial banker at JPMorgan Chase, Kiri launched her first eCommerce business on Amazon. Based on this first-hand experience, Kiri saw a gap in the market and decided to launch Bobsled Marketing, the leading Amazon agency which now helps clients around the world get discovered, bought and loved on Amazon. Alongside running Bobsled, Kiri has a weekly column in Forbes, hosts the ‘Ecommerce Braintrust’ and ‘Amazon For CMOs’ podcasts, and is the author of two books – ‘The Amazon Expansion Plan’ and ‘Amazon For CMOs’. In their conversation, Brian and Kiri discuss: - Whether traditional CPG brands should view Amazon as a threat or an opportunity. - The different ways retailers can tap into the power of Amazon and the one strategy they must adopt to ensure they can compete in today’s climate. - How Covid-19 is impacting supply chains and consumer behavior, what it means for Amazon and what it could mean for your business. Whether you’re only at the early stages with Amazon or you’re already using it and looking to ramp up your ROI, this episode is full of valuable insights and advice to help you master Amazon for your brand. We’d love to get your thoughts on this episode, as well as any recommendations for future guests, so please get in touch at https://www.bloomreach.com/en/about/contact-us. To learn more about Kiri, check out her LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiri-masters/. To learn more about Bobsled Marketing, visit https://www.bobsledmarketing.com/.