{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"startTime":1.1,"endTime":4.62,"body":"Okay, really cool news if you're attending"},{"startTime":1.1,"endTime":4.62,"body":"EVOLVE, and even if you're not attending"},{"startTime":4.62,"endTime":6.56,"body":"EVOLVE, you can take advantage of this."},{"startTime":6.69,"endTime":7.9,"body":"I am so excited."},{"startTime":7.9,"endTime":12.465,"body":"One of our sponsors for EVOLVE,"},{"startTime":7.9,"endTime":12.465,"body":"Wizard of Ads, is giving away a"},{"startTime":12.944,"endTime":16.285,"body":"free website health checkup audit."},{"startTime":16.655,"endTime":19.605,"body":"Now, this is something if you're"},{"startTime":16.655,"endTime":19.605,"body":"going to EVOLVE, you're going"},{"startTime":19.605,"endTime":20.655,"body":"to want to go to the table."},{"startTime":20.735,"endTime":25.124,"body":"You can get your audit right there, or"},{"startTime":20.735,"endTime":25.124,"body":"they can send it to you later, but get"},{"startTime":25.125,"endTime":26.714,"body":"your audit if you're coming to EVOLVE."},{"startTime":26.774,"endTime":32.644,"body":"Now, if you're not coming to EVOLVE,"},{"startTime":26.774,"endTime":32.644,"body":"you can go to wizardofadsonline.com."},{"startTime":33.074,"endTime":35.124,"body":"So learn more and you can message Vi."},{"startTime":35.205,"endTime":39.525,"body":"Vi Wickham is my friend, one of the"},{"startTime":35.205,"endTime":39.525,"body":"co owners of Wizard of Ads, and he"},{"startTime":39.525,"endTime":42.054,"body":"can tell you more about this offer,"},{"startTime":39.525,"endTime":42.054,"body":"but here's a little breakdown."},{"startTime":42.054,"endTime":45.974,"body":"You're getting domain ranking and"},{"startTime":42.054,"endTime":45.974,"body":"backlink history, keyword performance"},{"startTime":45.984,"endTime":50.414,"body":"for Google searches by position, your"},{"startTime":45.984,"endTime":50.414,"body":"site ranks and volume clicks, site"},{"startTime":50.414,"endTime":54.844,"body":"health based on crawled pages and the"},{"startTime":50.414,"endTime":54.844,"body":"errors Google detects, site performance,"},{"startTime":54.874,"endTime":59.314,"body":"the speed and other issues that Google"},{"startTime":54.874,"endTime":59.314,"body":"takes into account for your ranking and"},{"startTime":59.314,"endTime":61.614,"body":"a site visual review, a brief about."},{"startTime":61.894,"endTime":65.305,"body":"You know, any issues that they noticed"},{"startTime":61.894,"endTime":65.305,"body":"at a quick glance on the website, you've"},{"startTime":65.315,"endTime":67.405,"body":"wanted an expert to look at your website."},{"startTime":67.415,"endTime":69.685,"body":"This is the thing for you."},{"startTime":70.015,"endTime":72.354,"body":"So take advantage of this"},{"startTime":70.015,"endTime":72.354,"body":"while you're at EVOLVE."},{"startTime":72.375,"endTime":76.015,"body":"I want to give a big thank you to"},{"startTime":72.375,"endTime":76.015,"body":"the wizard of ads for sponsoring"},{"startTime":76.034,"endTime":78.124,"body":"and offering this epic deal."},{"startTime":78.125,"endTime":82.425,"body":"It's valued at a thousand dollars,"},{"startTime":78.125,"endTime":82.425,"body":"yours free for EVOLVE attendees."},{"startTime":82.735,"endTime":85.855,"body":"If you're still wanting to go to EVOLVE,"},{"startTime":82.735,"endTime":85.855,"body":"but you haven't gotten your ticket"},{"startTime":85.855,"endTime":87.575,"body":"yet, then be sure to get your ticket."},{"startTime":87.575,"endTime":89.865,"body":"We want to see you there and"},{"startTime":87.575,"endTime":89.865,"body":"go visit the wizard of ads."},{"startTime":90.695,"endTime":94.455,"body":"In this episode of Rooted in Retail,"},{"startTime":90.695,"endTime":94.455,"body":"I am excited to introduce you to"},{"startTime":94.495,"endTime":97.565,"body":"Alex Back, the founder of Couch.com."},{"startTime":97.965,"endTime":101.104,"body":"We talk about a lot in today's episode."},{"startTime":101.104,"endTime":102.285,"body":"You might want to take some notes."},{"startTime":102.295,"endTime":103.945,"body":"This is, you might even listen again."},{"startTime":104.365,"endTime":109.544,"body":"Alex shares a lot of great tips and"},{"startTime":104.365,"endTime":109.544,"body":"advice and even tools to help retailers"},{"startTime":109.825,"endTime":114.995,"body":"market, to EVOLVE, to stay up to date and"},{"startTime":109.825,"endTime":114.995,"body":"to think a little differently as well."},{"startTime":115.505,"endTime":119.105,"body":"A couple of these strategies that"},{"startTime":115.505,"endTime":119.105,"body":"Alex shared, I know that if you"},{"startTime":119.105,"endTime":122.185,"body":"take action on, you're going to"},{"startTime":119.105,"endTime":122.185,"body":"be a more successful retailer."},{"startTime":122.475,"endTime":125.285,"body":"So I'm so excited for you to"},{"startTime":122.475,"endTime":125.285,"body":"listen into this conversation."},{"startTime":125.295,"endTime":127.675,"body":"Before we dive in, here's a"},{"startTime":125.295,"endTime":127.675,"body":"little bit more about my guest."},{"startTime":127.825,"endTime":131.045,"body":"Alex Back is an entrepreneur in the"},{"startTime":127.825,"endTime":131.045,"body":"ecommerce space and currently the"},{"startTime":131.045,"endTime":135.835,"body":"founder and CEO of Couch.com, a new"},{"startTime":131.045,"endTime":135.835,"body":"startup focused on solving the biggest"},{"startTime":135.835,"endTime":140.095,"body":"issues for consumers in the furniture"},{"startTime":135.835,"endTime":140.095,"body":"industry: where the heck to buy a couch?"},{"startTime":140.475,"endTime":144.034,"body":"Previously, he co-founded and ran"},{"startTime":140.475,"endTime":144.034,"body":"the popular online furniture brand"},{"startTime":144.034,"endTime":148.255,"body":"Apt2B, and led it to a successful"},{"startTime":144.034,"endTime":148.255,"body":"exit and transition last year."},{"startTime":148.435,"endTime":152.65,"body":"He's had a lot of experience in"},{"startTime":148.435,"endTime":152.65,"body":"many aspects of business operations,"},{"startTime":152.66,"endTime":156.93,"body":"marketing, ecommerce, retail, and"},{"startTime":152.66,"endTime":156.93,"body":"management, which makes him like"},{"startTime":156.93,"endTime":159.059,"body":"the podcast Rooted in Retail."},{"startTime":159.339,"endTime":163.499,"body":"You can learn more at Couch.com and"},{"startTime":159.339,"endTime":163.499,"body":"let's dive into today's episode."},{"startTime":169.023,"endTime":170.543,"body":"Welcome to Rooted in Retail."},{"startTime":170.773,"endTime":172.523,"body":"I'm your host, Crystal Vilkaitis."},{"startTime":172.953,"endTime":177.733,"body":"Here we have engaging and informative"},{"startTime":172.953,"endTime":177.733,"body":"conversations with successful indie"},{"startTime":177.733,"endTime":179.453,"body":"retailers and industry experts."},{"startTime":179.933,"endTime":182.563,"body":"Together, we learn, connect, and grow."},{"startTime":183.133,"endTime":186.133,"body":"Don't miss our live after the"},{"startTime":183.133,"endTime":186.133,"body":"show every Tuesday night in the"},{"startTime":186.133,"endTime":187.753,"body":"Rooted in Retail Facebook group."},{"startTime":188.513,"endTime":191.073,"body":"All right, here's today's episode."},{"startTime":195.598,"endTime":197.498,"body":"Alex, welcome to Rooted in Retail."},{"startTime":197.498,"endTime":198.428,"body":"I'm thrilled you're here."},{"startTime":198.961,"endTime":199.751,"body":"Well, Thank you, Crystal."},{"startTime":199.751,"endTime":200.991,"body":"So nice to be here."},{"startTime":201.201,"endTime":204.711,"body":"Yeah, we're going to have"},{"startTime":201.201,"endTime":204.711,"body":"an awesome conversation."},{"startTime":204.711,"endTime":205.971,"body":"You're new to my world."},{"startTime":205.971,"endTime":209.391,"body":"So as I was preparing for this podcast,"},{"startTime":205.971,"endTime":209.391,"body":"I feel like I was stalking you."},{"startTime":209.391,"endTime":211.961,"body":"I was looking at all the socials"},{"startTime":209.391,"endTime":211.961,"body":"and your website and watching your"},{"startTime":211.961,"endTime":217.151,"body":"videos and you're doing some really"},{"startTime":211.961,"endTime":217.151,"body":"cool things before we dive into it."},{"startTime":217.181,"endTime":219.741,"body":"I'd love for you to take a"},{"startTime":217.181,"endTime":219.741,"body":"couple minutes, share, because"},{"startTime":219.761,"endTime":221.021,"body":"you're pretty rooted in retail."},{"startTime":221.021,"endTime":226.351,"body":"So share about your experience and"},{"startTime":221.021,"endTime":226.351,"body":"about your new business Couch.com."},{"startTime":227.061,"endTime":229.351,"body":"I am Rooted in Retail, that's for sure."},{"startTime":229.401,"endTime":234.251,"body":"I think about things from a retailer's"},{"startTime":229.401,"endTime":234.251,"body":"perspective, like my kids are annoyed"},{"startTime":234.251,"endTime":237.641,"body":"by all the little lessons I try to"},{"startTime":234.251,"endTime":237.641,"body":"teach them all the time, but I digress."},{"startTime":239.231,"endTime":243.781,"body":"So I got started in retail"},{"startTime":239.231,"endTime":243.781,"body":"when I was in my early to mid"},{"startTime":243.781,"endTime":245.171,"body":"twenties in the furniture space."},{"startTime":245.641,"endTime":252.221,"body":"So I've been rooted in the furniture"},{"startTime":245.641,"endTime":252.221,"body":"retail community for the last,"},{"startTime":252.301,"endTime":253.641,"body":"almost 20 years at this point."},{"startTime":253.691,"endTime":258.738,"body":"Basically started selling furniture"},{"startTime":253.691,"endTime":258.738,"body":"while I was an actor in Hollywood."},{"startTime":259.058,"endTime":262.768,"body":"I was never like very successful,"},{"startTime":259.058,"endTime":262.768,"body":"but I shot a few commercials and"},{"startTime":263.868,"endTime":266.618,"body":"was in a bunch of musical theater"},{"startTime":263.868,"endTime":266.618,"body":"productions and things of that nature."},{"startTime":266.618,"endTime":268.918,"body":"So,  my side job was selling furniture."},{"startTime":269.438,"endTime":272.038,"body":"And that's how I worked"},{"startTime":269.438,"endTime":272.038,"body":"for a retail store."},{"startTime":272.038,"endTime":275.368,"body":"We had this deal with Costco"},{"startTime":272.038,"endTime":275.368,"body":"where we would go into Costco's"},{"startTime":275.368,"endTime":279.038,"body":"and like they sampled the hummus"},{"startTime":275.368,"endTime":279.038,"body":"and or show you the Vitamix, they"},{"startTime":279.038,"endTime":280.278,"body":"do these like special events."},{"startTime":280.278,"endTime":281.358,"body":"We did it with couches."},{"startTime":281.918,"endTime":285.288,"body":"So that's how I got into the furniture"},{"startTime":281.918,"endTime":285.288,"body":"business, selling couches at Costco"},{"startTime":285.288,"endTime":286.778,"body":"while I was an actor in Hollywood."},{"startTime":287.773,"endTime":288.673,"body":"How fun."},{"startTime":289.148,"endTime":289.728,"body":"Yes."},{"startTime":290.228,"endTime":293.618,"body":"I met my business partner,"},{"startTime":290.228,"endTime":293.618,"body":"Matt, through that process."},{"startTime":293.618,"endTime":295.138,"body":"He ran the store and operation."},{"startTime":295.138,"endTime":296.838,"body":"He's like my big brother type figure."},{"startTime":297.528,"endTime":304.368,"body":"And we had the idea to basically  bring"},{"startTime":297.528,"endTime":304.368,"body":"furniture retail to the online space,"},{"startTime":304.408,"endTime":308.923,"body":"because back when we were thinking"},{"startTime":304.408,"endTime":308.923,"body":"about this and doing this in 2009, 2010."},{"startTime":309.213,"endTime":313.703,"body":"There really was no independent"},{"startTime":309.213,"endTime":313.703,"body":"retailer presence for furniture"},{"startTime":313.703,"endTime":315.463,"body":"or any big ticket items online."},{"startTime":315.473,"endTime":316.533,"body":"No one was doing that."},{"startTime":317.083,"endTime":319.643,"body":"Like people weren't"},{"startTime":317.083,"endTime":319.643,"body":"spending a lot of money yet."},{"startTime":320.273,"endTime":323.123,"body":"So we started, we had no"},{"startTime":320.273,"endTime":323.123,"body":"idea what we were doing."},{"startTime":323.123,"endTime":326.173,"body":"We got up a website, we figured it out."},{"startTime":326.753,"endTime":330.303,"body":"And luckily the competition"},{"startTime":326.753,"endTime":330.303,"body":"didn't start springing up until"},{"startTime":330.303,"endTime":331.343,"body":"three or four years later."},{"startTime":331.343,"endTime":333.883,"body":"So we have a good amount"},{"startTime":331.343,"endTime":333.883,"body":"of time to figure it out."},{"startTime":333.883,"endTime":335.283,"body":"We ended up being really successful."},{"startTime":335.283,"endTime":336.983,"body":"We started shipping nationally."},{"startTime":337.023,"endTime":339.933,"body":"We  really kept our finger"},{"startTime":337.023,"endTime":339.933,"body":"on the pulse of things."},{"startTime":339.933,"endTime":341.683,"body":"Got a lot of interesting opportunities."},{"startTime":341.683,"endTime":346.013,"body":"We took a lot of them, had to pass on"},{"startTime":341.683,"endTime":346.013,"body":"some others, but things just elevated"},{"startTime":346.013,"endTime":349.933,"body":"us and elevated us to the point where we"},{"startTime":346.013,"endTime":349.933,"body":"were attractive enough to be acquired."},{"startTime":350.183,"endTime":354.878,"body":"So we sold our company in 2018"},{"startTime":350.183,"endTime":354.878,"body":"to a large furniture chain."},{"startTime":355.298,"endTime":358.338,"body":"And I stayed on for about"},{"startTime":355.298,"endTime":358.338,"body":"four years as the COO."},{"startTime":358.638,"endTime":362.588,"body":"We grew the business even more"},{"startTime":358.638,"endTime":362.588,"body":"and Apt2B is still like a very"},{"startTime":362.588,"endTime":364.828,"body":"popular online furniture brand."},{"startTime":365.338,"endTime":369.078,"body":"I left a year ago to start Couch.com"},{"startTime":365.338,"endTime":369.078,"body":"and I'm happy to tell you all about it."},{"startTime":369.768,"endTime":370.408,"body":"Yes."},{"startTime":370.438,"endTime":375.388,"body":"I know because Couch.com is unique on what"},{"startTime":370.438,"endTime":375.388,"body":"you're doing and it, I love how it's very"},{"startTime":375.928,"endTime":378.168,"body":"education forward is what I got from it."},{"startTime":378.188,"endTime":381.848,"body":"So give us a couple, take a"},{"startTime":378.188,"endTime":381.848,"body":"couple minutes and tell us about"},{"startTime":382.138,"endTime":383.148,"body":"Couch.com and what you're doing."},{"startTime":383.798,"endTime":384.108,"body":"Great."},{"startTime":384.688,"endTime":391.998,"body":"So the purpose of Couch.com is to"},{"startTime":384.688,"endTime":391.998,"body":"solve the biggest issue that faces"},{"startTime":392.018,"endTime":396.118,"body":"furniture customers and retailers,"},{"startTime":392.018,"endTime":396.118,"body":"which is that customers have"},{"startTime":396.118,"endTime":398.908,"body":"no idea where to buy furniture."},{"startTime":399.578,"endTime":403.288,"body":"So that's the sort of lead question"},{"startTime":399.578,"endTime":403.288,"body":"and problem that we're solving."},{"startTime":403.288,"endTime":408.548,"body":"And then we're serving a lot of different"},{"startTime":403.288,"endTime":408.548,"body":"ancillary problems and solving them, or at"},{"startTime":408.548,"endTime":412.508,"body":"least attempting to, but ultimately people"},{"startTime":408.548,"endTime":412.508,"body":"don't know where to buy a great couch."},{"startTime":413.033,"endTime":415.233,"body":"And there are so many"},{"startTime":413.033,"endTime":415.233,"body":"places to buy a great couch."},{"startTime":415.253,"endTime":419.193,"body":"And it's not just like the places you find"},{"startTime":415.253,"endTime":419.193,"body":"on a Google search or the places that you"},{"startTime":419.193,"endTime":422.683,"body":"drive by in the mall, on your way home"},{"startTime":419.193,"endTime":422.683,"body":"from work that you may happen to see."},{"startTime":423.173,"endTime":426.803,"body":"There are plenty of mom and pop"},{"startTime":423.173,"endTime":426.803,"body":"retailers or custom furniture"},{"startTime":426.803,"endTime":428.463,"body":"places that are actually affordable."},{"startTime":428.903,"endTime":433.183,"body":"There are all these different options"},{"startTime":428.903,"endTime":433.183,"body":"that are just not present and available."},{"startTime":433.583,"endTime":437.399,"body":"So the big thing that we're"},{"startTime":433.583,"endTime":437.399,"body":"doing is bringing people in."},{"startTime":437.399,"endTime":441.029,"body":"Asking them what's most important to them"},{"startTime":437.399,"endTime":441.029,"body":"about what they're looking for in a couch."},{"startTime":441.029,"endTime":442.319,"body":"Do you need something right away?"},{"startTime":442.479,"endTime":443.579,"body":"Or are you okay waiting?"},{"startTime":443.869,"endTime":444.559,"body":"Do you have kids?"},{"startTime":444.559,"endTime":445.149,"body":"Do you have cats?"},{"startTime":445.769,"endTime":449.939,"body":"These are sort of determining or"},{"startTime":445.769,"endTime":449.939,"body":"lead variables when people make,"},{"startTime":450.379,"endTime":452.479,"body":"start their couch buying process."},{"startTime":452.929,"endTime":456.839,"body":"So getting some information from them"},{"startTime":452.929,"endTime":456.839,"body":"with an entry quiz that we're building"},{"startTime":456.929,"endTime":461.879,"body":"right now, and then funneling them"},{"startTime":456.929,"endTime":461.879,"body":"towards the right retailer or product"},{"startTime":461.929,"endTime":465.429,"body":"that they may be interested in, either"},{"startTime":461.929,"endTime":465.429,"body":"online with online retailers, or in"},{"startTime":465.429,"endTime":467.659,"body":"their local area is really the thing."},{"startTime":468.019,"endTime":474.069,"body":"And for the retailers, this is essentially"},{"startTime":468.019,"endTime":474.069,"body":"an advertising platform for them, right?"},{"startTime":474.069,"endTime":479.209,"body":"So they are able to advertise to and"},{"startTime":474.069,"endTime":479.209,"body":"present their brand, or their store"},{"startTime":479.249,"endTime":485.759,"body":"to this audience of hyper focused,"},{"startTime":479.249,"endTime":485.759,"body":"conversion focused couch shoppers."},{"startTime":487.194,"endTime":487.474,"body":"Love"},{"startTime":487.549,"endTime":488.349,"body":"that made sense."},{"startTime":488.829,"endTime":489.419,"body":"Absolutely."},{"startTime":489.839,"endTime":491.249,"body":"Yes, it makes a lot of sense."},{"startTime":491.249,"endTime":494.409,"body":"And I think for our listeners, really"},{"startTime":491.249,"endTime":494.409,"body":"thinking about and identifying,"},{"startTime":494.409,"endTime":498.289,"body":"how can I make it really easy for"},{"startTime":494.409,"endTime":498.289,"body":"my customers to find the products"},{"startTime":498.289,"endTime":499.429,"body":"that they're searching for?"},{"startTime":499.749,"endTime":504.679,"body":"And you're solving that in the"},{"startTime":499.749,"endTime":504.679,"body":"furniture space and specifically"},{"startTime":504.679,"endTime":506.059,"body":"couches, which I love."},{"startTime":506.409,"endTime":508.889,"body":"Now, couches, obviously,"},{"startTime":506.409,"endTime":508.889,"body":"are higher ticket."},{"startTime":508.999,"endTime":513.189,"body":"You mentioned bigger tickets"},{"startTime":508.999,"endTime":513.189,"body":"and a lot of our retailers, they"},{"startTime":513.189,"endTime":514.299,"body":"might be a furniture retail."},{"startTime":514.299,"endTime":518.919,"body":"They might be a jeweler and have higher"},{"startTime":514.299,"endTime":518.919,"body":"price points, so I would love to know."},{"startTime":519.594,"endTime":522.324,"body":"Because as we were prepping for"},{"startTime":519.594,"endTime":522.324,"body":"this, you said that you've observed"},{"startTime":522.324,"endTime":526.174,"body":"that retailing big ticket items"},{"startTime":522.324,"endTime":526.174,"body":"online differs significantly"},{"startTime":526.174,"endTime":527.934,"body":"from smaller ticket purchases."},{"startTime":528.474,"endTime":532.404,"body":"So could you share insight into the"},{"startTime":528.474,"endTime":532.404,"body":"unique challenges and opportunities"},{"startTime":532.434,"endTime":535.634,"body":"this presents, especially for"},{"startTime":532.434,"endTime":535.634,"body":"retailers looking to balance"},{"startTime":535.704,"endTime":538.244,"body":"online and physical store sales?"},{"startTime":539.659,"endTime":540.419,"body":"Absolutely."},{"startTime":540.489,"endTime":544.319,"body":"So I think the number one thing that"},{"startTime":540.489,"endTime":544.319,"body":"I talk about and I've experienced"},{"startTime":544.329,"endTime":551.369,"body":"myself is that big ticket items,"},{"startTime":544.329,"endTime":551.369,"body":"selling them online is not the same"},{"startTime":551.469,"endTime":554.265,"body":"as selling smaller commodity items."},{"startTime":554.265,"endTime":557.659,"body":"Selling a couch is much"},{"startTime":554.265,"endTime":557.659,"body":"different than selling a t shirt."},{"startTime":557.809,"endTime":562.009,"body":"Because if you think from the customer's"},{"startTime":557.809,"endTime":562.009,"body":"perspective, it's still sort of the same,"},{"startTime":562.019,"endTime":565.989,"body":"even though they're shopping online and"},{"startTime":562.019,"endTime":565.989,"body":"it is so easy to spend a lot of money"},{"startTime":565.989,"endTime":567.609,"body":"very quickly with just a few clicks."},{"startTime":567.699,"endTime":570.639,"body":"We all have done it probably at"},{"startTime":567.699,"endTime":570.639,"body":"this point once or twice, at least."},{"startTime":571.529,"endTime":576.109,"body":"It still takes the same thought"},{"startTime":571.529,"endTime":576.109,"body":"process and comfortability level"},{"startTime":576.299,"endTime":578.069,"body":"to get to the point of conversion."},{"startTime":578.849,"endTime":580.619,"body":"I know this, I have data to back it up."},{"startTime":580.619,"endTime":581.699,"body":"I've lived this life."},{"startTime":581.699,"endTime":586.299,"body":"I know how hard it is to get someone"},{"startTime":581.699,"endTime":586.299,"body":"to spend an average of two thousand"},{"startTime":586.299,"endTime":587.809,"body":"dollars on a purchase online."},{"startTime":588.404,"endTime":589.984,"body":"The conversion rate is much lower."},{"startTime":590.384,"endTime":592.114,"body":"It takes a lot longer to do it."},{"startTime":592.784,"endTime":598.484,"body":"And I think the first step that I would"},{"startTime":592.784,"endTime":598.484,"body":"take as a retailer selling a big ticket"},{"startTime":598.484,"endTime":604.194,"body":"item is to really own and lean into the"},{"startTime":598.484,"endTime":604.194,"body":"fact that this is a high consideration"},{"startTime":604.204,"endTime":608.064,"body":"purchase, whether it's because of the"},{"startTime":604.204,"endTime":608.064,"body":"price point or in my case, because"},{"startTime":608.064,"endTime":611.394,"body":"it's something for your home and it's"},{"startTime":608.064,"endTime":611.394,"body":"very personal to people, they're going"},{"startTime":611.394,"endTime":613.124,"body":"to think about it for a long time."},{"startTime":613.614,"endTime":617.774,"body":"So you have to make sure that  your"},{"startTime":613.614,"endTime":617.774,"body":"marketing and your just general"},{"startTime":617.774,"endTime":622.674,"body":"approach to retailing is set up"},{"startTime":617.774,"endTime":622.674,"body":"for your specific type of business."},{"startTime":623.254,"endTime":626.584,"body":"I think the biggest pitfall"},{"startTime":623.254,"endTime":626.584,"body":"people fall into is just \" Oh,"},{"startTime":626.884,"endTime":628.144,"body":"I see this other website."},{"startTime":628.164,"endTime":629.904,"body":"I'm going to make a website"},{"startTime":628.164,"endTime":629.904,"body":"that looks like that."},{"startTime":629.904,"endTime":630.724,"body":"It looks the same."},{"startTime":630.724,"endTime":633.124,"body":"Mine should do just as well.\""},{"startTime":633.134,"endTime":637.374,"body":"But the fact is you have to, really,"},{"startTime":633.134,"endTime":637.374,"body":"just like you would in any retail"},{"startTime":637.374,"endTime":639.114,"body":"store, you have to merchandise it."},{"startTime":639.114,"endTime":643.154,"body":"You have to think about exactly"},{"startTime":639.114,"endTime":643.154,"body":"the psychology of the customer."},{"startTime":643.554,"endTime":646.054,"body":"And it's not that different"},{"startTime":643.554,"endTime":646.054,"body":"for an online customer."},{"startTime":646.054,"endTime":647.254,"body":"It's the same person."},{"startTime":648.639,"endTime":648.929,"body":"Yeah."},{"startTime":649.934,"endTime":650.354,"body":"You know,"},{"startTime":651.189,"endTime":651.469,"body":"Yeah."},{"startTime":652.009,"endTime":652.759,"body":"It's very true."},{"startTime":652.759,"endTime":655.529,"body":"Well, I even had a few episodes ago."},{"startTime":656.179,"endTime":660.149,"body":"We had some call-in guests, like"},{"startTime":656.179,"endTime":660.149,"body":"questions from our listeners."},{"startTime":660.179,"endTime":663.329,"body":"And one of those questions"},{"startTime":660.179,"endTime":663.329,"body":"was from a tea company."},{"startTime":663.329,"endTime":665.119,"body":"And she was asking, like, how do I bridge?"},{"startTime":665.539,"endTime":669.689,"body":"How do I sell to my online"},{"startTime":665.539,"endTime":669.689,"body":"customers and offline customers?"},{"startTime":669.969,"endTime":670.799,"body":"They're different."},{"startTime":670.829,"endTime":672.169,"body":"And that was my first question back."},{"startTime":672.489,"endTime":673.369,"body":"Are they different?"},{"startTime":673.719,"endTime":676.209,"body":"Do we know for sure"},{"startTime":673.719,"endTime":676.209,"body":"that they're different?"},{"startTime":676.239,"endTime":679.629,"body":"And obviously you might have some"},{"startTime":676.239,"endTime":679.629,"body":"of these differences, and location"},{"startTime":679.629,"endTime":680.929,"body":"might play a big part in that."},{"startTime":680.939,"endTime":682.849,"body":"But I do agree with you."},{"startTime":682.849,"endTime":685.969,"body":"I think that we have to really"},{"startTime":682.849,"endTime":685.969,"body":"understand the customer."},{"startTime":685.969,"endTime":688.949,"body":"We can't be comparing and looking"},{"startTime":685.969,"endTime":688.949,"body":"at what other people are doing."},{"startTime":688.949,"endTime":692.629,"body":"We really have to focus our efforts"},{"startTime":688.949,"endTime":692.629,"body":"on communicating to that person"},{"startTime":692.629,"endTime":694.399,"body":"and continuously showing up."},{"startTime":694.859,"endTime":698.014,"body":"Because you never know when they"},{"startTime":694.859,"endTime":698.014,"body":"are going to be ready to pull the"},{"startTime":698.014,"endTime":702.324,"body":"trigger and you want to be that"},{"startTime":698.014,"endTime":702.324,"body":"person that's top of mind and you"},{"startTime":702.324,"endTime":703.744,"body":"really built that relationship with."},{"startTime":703.744,"endTime":709.624,"body":"Which is a perfect segue into talking"},{"startTime":703.744,"endTime":709.624,"body":"about marketing and, especially for"},{"startTime":709.624,"endTime":713.104,"body":"retail marketing, it's evolving rapidly."},{"startTime":713.554,"endTime":716.564,"body":"And especially with the widespread"},{"startTime":713.554,"endTime":716.564,"body":"accessibility of internet"},{"startTime":716.574,"endTime":718.664,"body":"advertising, influencers."},{"startTime":719.164,"endTime":723.294,"body":"So how should small retailers adapt"},{"startTime":719.164,"endTime":723.294,"body":"their marketing strategies to stay"},{"startTime":723.294,"endTime":727.984,"body":"competitive and relevant in the fast"},{"startTime":723.294,"endTime":727.984,"body":"paced environment that we all live in?"},{"startTime":728.047,"endTime":732.247,"body":"So I think one, it starts with"},{"startTime":728.047,"endTime":732.247,"body":"the industry that you're in."},{"startTime":732.277,"endTime":736.157,"body":"I think really understanding"},{"startTime":732.277,"endTime":736.157,"body":"how others in your specific"},{"startTime":736.167,"endTime":739.344,"body":"vertical are being successful."},{"startTime":739.384,"endTime":741.174,"body":"And I would talk to them."},{"startTime":741.324,"endTime":744.404,"body":"Like people are actually more"},{"startTime":741.324,"endTime":744.404,"body":"friendly, communicative, even if they"},{"startTime":744.404,"endTime":746.044,"body":"may be somewhat competitive to you."},{"startTime":746.624,"endTime":748.234,"body":"So if you, let's say you sell jewelry."},{"startTime":748.854,"endTime":752.234,"body":"And you see a lot of"},{"startTime":748.854,"endTime":752.234,"body":"jewelry ads on Instagram."},{"startTime":752.754,"endTime":757.374,"body":"Getting in touch with a brand that"},{"startTime":752.754,"endTime":757.374,"body":"may be in your space and asking"},{"startTime":757.374,"endTime":758.704,"body":"them, \"Is this working for yours?\""},{"startTime":758.744,"endTime":759.754,"body":"You can ask questions."},{"startTime":759.834,"endTime":761.914,"body":"The worst they could say"},{"startTime":759.834,"endTime":761.914,"body":"is \" I don't want to tell you.\""},{"startTime":762.524,"endTime":768.724,"body":"So that's just a quick aside, but I think"},{"startTime":762.524,"endTime":768.724,"body":"really taking stock of what seems to be"},{"startTime":768.744,"endTime":772.024,"body":"working out there is a good first step."},{"startTime":772.594,"endTime":775.094,"body":"That being said, and I know"},{"startTime":772.594,"endTime":775.094,"body":"from the furniture space, it's"},{"startTime":775.384,"endTime":776.884,"body":"become such a crowded market."},{"startTime":777.249,"endTime":781.369,"body":"Like when Facebook ads became a"},{"startTime":777.249,"endTime":781.369,"body":"thing but it used to not be a thing."},{"startTime":781.589,"endTime":782.449,"body":"And then it was."},{"startTime":783.039,"endTime":786.449,"body":"It was like dirt cheap, just"},{"startTime":783.039,"endTime":786.449,"body":"like TikTok advertising was"},{"startTime":786.449,"endTime":787.649,"body":"a few years ago, dirt cheap."},{"startTime":787.649,"endTime":791.459,"body":"It was like, they just were getting"},{"startTime":787.649,"endTime":791.459,"body":"people in and there was no competition."},{"startTime":791.589,"endTime":795.599,"body":"So these are sort of like all"},{"startTime":791.589,"endTime":795.599,"body":"open market, auction based."},{"startTime":795.772,"endTime":798.156,"body":"Google, Meta, TikTok."},{"startTime":798.686,"endTime":801.866,"body":"And so the less competition there"},{"startTime":798.686,"endTime":801.866,"body":"is, the less expensive the ads are."},{"startTime":801.866,"endTime":804.906,"body":"The more competition there is,"},{"startTime":801.866,"endTime":804.906,"body":"it's going to be more expensive."},{"startTime":804.906,"endTime":808.756,"body":"So if it seems to be like a"},{"startTime":804.906,"endTime":808.756,"body":"saturated place, then maybe go"},{"startTime":808.996,"endTime":810.856,"body":"look in some alternative places."},{"startTime":810.866,"endTime":813.236,"body":"Some of these can be really valuable."},{"startTime":813.796,"endTime":817.056,"body":"Now, I think a lot of us have heard"},{"startTime":813.796,"endTime":817.056,"body":"this term of like micro influencer."},{"startTime":817.646,"endTime":820.696,"body":"We also have had a lot of negative"},{"startTime":817.646,"endTime":820.696,"body":"stigma attached to the term influencer."},{"startTime":821.431,"endTime":826.891,"body":"But the micro influencer is a good example"},{"startTime":821.431,"endTime":826.891,"body":"of someone with a smaller following"},{"startTime":826.951,"endTime":833.671,"body":"that may be more dedicated and can"},{"startTime":826.951,"endTime":833.671,"body":"actually push conversion to your product."},{"startTime":834.251,"endTime":838.351,"body":"Another way, just something"},{"startTime":834.251,"endTime":838.351,"body":"that I think is going to boom"},{"startTime":838.401,"endTime":840.301,"body":"huge in the next year or two."},{"startTime":840.661,"endTime":843.391,"body":"And it's been growing so"},{"startTime":840.661,"endTime":843.391,"body":"rapidly is affiliate marketing."},{"startTime":844.061,"endTime":847.841,"body":"And that doesn't mean just working"},{"startTime":844.061,"endTime":847.841,"body":"with influencers, but rather people"},{"startTime":847.841,"endTime":853.791,"body":"who have a following, who have a blog,"},{"startTime":847.841,"endTime":853.791,"body":"who are content creators, they're"},{"startTime":853.791,"endTime":858.851,"body":"always looking for content and they can"},{"startTime":853.791,"endTime":858.851,"body":"generally work your brand or product"},{"startTime":858.851,"endTime":861.261,"body":"into what they're doing very easily."},{"startTime":861.581,"endTime":862.981,"body":"And it's performance based."},{"startTime":862.991,"endTime":868.251,"body":"So when you set up with an affiliate,"},{"startTime":862.991,"endTime":868.251,"body":"you're essentially paying them for"},{"startTime":868.271,"endTime":871.926,"body":"only for the traffic that they're"},{"startTime":868.271,"endTime":871.926,"body":"sending you to your website or store."},{"startTime":871.986,"endTime":876.196,"body":"Or a commission based on sales"},{"startTime":871.986,"endTime":876.196,"body":"that they have helped to generate."},{"startTime":876.686,"endTime":882.996,"body":"So these are cash positive ways to"},{"startTime":876.686,"endTime":882.996,"body":"to do marketing without gambling so"},{"startTime":882.996,"endTime":885.426,"body":"much that can pay huge dividends."},{"startTime":885.486,"endTime":887.536,"body":"I've been doing affiliate"},{"startTime":885.486,"endTime":887.536,"body":"marketing for almost a decade,"},{"startTime":887.556,"endTime":894.391,"body":"and I think it's an amazing way"},{"startTime":887.556,"endTime":894.391,"body":"to  effectively and strategically"},{"startTime":894.401,"endTime":896.791,"body":"scale your advertising efforts."},{"startTime":897.976,"endTime":902.586,"body":"I love that you said that because I"},{"startTime":897.976,"endTime":902.586,"body":"don't think a lot of our listeners are"},{"startTime":902.606,"endTime":904.376,"body":"thinking about affiliate marketing."},{"startTime":904.826,"endTime":909.736,"body":"And we do talk about those micro"},{"startTime":904.826,"endTime":909.736,"body":"influencers, but it's so funny because"},{"startTime":909.736,"endTime":914.126,"body":"we're recording this on March 8th in"},{"startTime":909.736,"endTime":914.126,"body":"two weeks of this being published."},{"startTime":914.801,"endTime":919.941,"body":"We'll go another episode, but I just"},{"startTime":914.801,"endTime":919.941,"body":"interviewed this morning from Wade Tonkin,"},{"startTime":919.941,"endTime":924.801,"body":"who runs the affiliate department at"},{"startTime":919.941,"endTime":924.801,"body":"Fanatics, which is one of the largest"},{"startTime":925.501,"endTime":927.571,"body":"affiliate programs in the world."},{"startTime":928.131,"endTime":931.231,"body":"So anyone listening to this, and you're"},{"startTime":928.131,"endTime":931.231,"body":"curious about affiliate marketing,"},{"startTime":931.441,"endTime":933.281,"body":"Alex is giving you gold right now."},{"startTime":933.291,"endTime":938.176,"body":"That is such a good tip that we"},{"startTime":933.291,"endTime":938.176,"body":"need to understand how that could"},{"startTime":938.176,"endTime":939.506,"body":"really help support our business."},{"startTime":939.906,"endTime":941.406,"body":"And it can help a lot of different types."},{"startTime":941.406,"endTime":945.486,"body":"It's not just furniture, and so I"},{"startTime":941.406,"endTime":945.486,"body":"love that that's one of your tips."},{"startTime":945.516,"endTime":950.376,"body":"I think that there's a massive opportunity"},{"startTime":945.516,"endTime":950.376,"body":"and our locals and our independents"},{"startTime":950.396,"endTime":954.046,"body":"can actually be a big part of that and"},{"startTime":950.396,"endTime":954.046,"body":"take advantage of that opportunity."},{"startTime":955.421,"endTime":956.161,"body":"Absolutely."},{"startTime":956.171,"endTime":959.801,"body":"So there are other like affiliate"},{"startTime":956.171,"endTime":959.801,"body":"marketing has EVOLVEd to the point"},{"startTime":959.801,"endTime":964.971,"body":"where even brick and mortar focused"},{"startTime":959.801,"endTime":964.971,"body":"brands and businesses can participate."},{"startTime":965.171,"endTime":970.711,"body":"There's tons of tracking software for"},{"startTime":965.171,"endTime":970.711,"body":"retailers to use, I know, because the"},{"startTime":970.711,"endTime":974.701,"body":"company that purchased mine, that I"},{"startTime":970.711,"endTime":974.701,"body":"worked for four years, they use this"},{"startTime":974.711,"endTime":978.171,"body":"they compensated some advertising"},{"startTime":974.711,"endTime":978.171,"body":"partners based on store visits."},{"startTime":978.706,"endTime":981.826,"body":"And that's a way that you can"},{"startTime":978.706,"endTime":981.826,"body":"optimize your Google advertising too."},{"startTime":981.846,"endTime":985.976,"body":"It's not a perfect science, obviously"},{"startTime":981.846,"endTime":985.976,"body":"nothing is, but there's also just"},{"startTime":986.286,"endTime":991.726,"body":"CPC based, cost per click, based"},{"startTime":986.286,"endTime":991.726,"body":"traffic to your website or to your"},{"startTime":991.726,"endTime":996.257,"body":"store locator on your website  that"},{"startTime":991.726,"endTime":996.257,"body":"you can pay for affiliates who are"},{"startTime":996.267,"endTime":998.947,"body":"monetizing to send traffic to you."},{"startTime":999.057,"endTime":1000.877,"body":"So there are opportunities there."},{"startTime":1001.237,"endTime":1003.907,"body":"I do want to say one quick thing"},{"startTime":1001.237,"endTime":1003.907,"body":"though, cause you mentioned Fanatics."},{"startTime":1003.907,"endTime":1007.267,"body":"Like as soon as you mentioned Fanatics,"},{"startTime":1003.907,"endTime":1007.267,"body":"I'm starting to think about something"},{"startTime":1007.267,"endTime":1010.437,"body":"else, which is a brand partnership."},{"startTime":1010.767,"endTime":1012.197,"body":"Fanatics is huge."},{"startTime":1012.247,"endTime":1013.937,"body":"Okay, like huge company."},{"startTime":1013.977,"endTime":1015.697,"body":"They're about to blow up."},{"startTime":1015.887,"endTime":1018.667,"body":"That industry is crazy right now."},{"startTime":1019.247,"endTime":1022.997,"body":"And they're getting sports cards"},{"startTime":1019.247,"endTime":1022.997,"body":"and all this kind of stuff, but I"},{"startTime":1022.997,"endTime":1027.407,"body":"feel like Fanatics and Couch.com"},{"startTime":1022.997,"endTime":1027.407,"body":"could be like a great partnership."},{"startTime":1027.667,"endTime":1029.037,"body":"Now, Couch.com is just starting."},{"startTime":1029.037,"endTime":1032.087,"body":"I don't have too much to offer,"},{"startTime":1029.037,"endTime":1032.087,"body":"except we're a nimble partner."},{"startTime":1032.437,"endTime":1033.927,"body":"We'll give them great content."},{"startTime":1033.927,"endTime":1037.147,"body":"We could do something super fun"},{"startTime":1033.927,"endTime":1037.147,"body":"and make it super easy for them to"},{"startTime":1037.147,"endTime":1038.587,"body":"promote something to their audience."},{"startTime":1038.847,"endTime":1042.077,"body":"So I'm already thinking about brand"},{"startTime":1038.847,"endTime":1042.077,"body":"partnerships, which is something that"},{"startTime":1042.077,"endTime":1045.337,"body":"smaller retailers and independents"},{"startTime":1042.077,"endTime":1045.337,"body":"should really be thinking about."},{"startTime":1045.357,"endTime":1048.517,"body":"How can you use another brand's"},{"startTime":1045.357,"endTime":1048.517,"body":"platform to elevate your own?"},{"startTime":1048.907,"endTime":1051.547,"body":"You offer them something and they"},{"startTime":1048.907,"endTime":1051.547,"body":"give you something in return."},{"startTime":1052.807,"endTime":1053.737,"body":"I love it."},{"startTime":1053.807,"endTime":1058.197,"body":"I think that we can leverage other"},{"startTime":1053.807,"endTime":1058.197,"body":"people's audiences and leverage"},{"startTime":1058.197,"endTime":1061.347,"body":"other people's connections and"},{"startTime":1058.197,"endTime":1061.347,"body":"there's so much opportunity."},{"startTime":1061.607,"endTime":1066.277,"body":"I think that when you have a brick"},{"startTime":1061.607,"endTime":1066.277,"body":"and mortar, we can sometimes just keep"},{"startTime":1066.277,"endTime":1071.612,"body":"doing what we've always done and not"},{"startTime":1066.277,"endTime":1071.612,"body":"EVOLVE, and I have a conference called"},{"startTime":1071.622,"endTime":1073.692,"body":"EVOLVE, and there's a reason to that."},{"startTime":1073.732,"endTime":1074.752,"body":"We need to EVOLVE."},{"startTime":1074.762,"endTime":1078.452,"body":"We need to adapt and things like this"},{"startTime":1074.762,"endTime":1078.452,"body":"with affiliate marketing, our micro"},{"startTime":1078.452,"endTime":1080.492,"body":"influencers, the brand partnerships."},{"startTime":1081.192,"endTime":1082.882,"body":"That's a totally"},{"startTime":1081.192,"endTime":1082.882,"body":"different way of thinking."},{"startTime":1083.112,"endTime":1087.632,"body":"Alex, is there a tip that you would have"},{"startTime":1083.112,"endTime":1087.632,"body":"for our retailers that are like, oh,"},{"startTime":1087.632,"endTime":1089.412,"body":"tell me more about brand partnership."},{"startTime":1089.412,"endTime":1090.442,"body":"That's interesting."},{"startTime":1090.452,"endTime":1093.302,"body":"How could they maybe get"},{"startTime":1090.452,"endTime":1093.302,"body":"started exploring that option?"},{"startTime":1094.577,"endTime":1100.587,"body":"So one way, first of all, I think"},{"startTime":1094.577,"endTime":1100.587,"body":"just literally reaching out to"},{"startTime":1100.587,"endTime":1104.907,"body":"another brand, and that could be,"},{"startTime":1100.587,"endTime":1104.907,"body":"let's take it like super micro level."},{"startTime":1104.907,"endTime":1112.627,"body":"I have a neighbor of mine has like a very"},{"startTime":1104.907,"endTime":1112.627,"body":"popular gift and apparel store for women."},{"startTime":1113.167,"endTime":1114.617,"body":"That's been around forever."},{"startTime":1114.617,"endTime":1118.767,"body":"It's old school, but she's on this"},{"startTime":1114.617,"endTime":1118.767,"body":"one retail strip in LA where I live."},{"startTime":1118.767,"endTime":1120.957,"body":"And there's not that"},{"startTime":1118.767,"endTime":1120.957,"body":"many retail strips here."},{"startTime":1120.957,"endTime":1122.197,"body":"Everything's pretty fragmented."},{"startTime":1122.887,"endTime":1127.117,"body":"And I think about like always, why"},{"startTime":1122.887,"endTime":1127.117,"body":"not partner up with the pizza place?"},{"startTime":1127.137,"endTime":1129.847,"body":"Why not just go down the street"},{"startTime":1127.137,"endTime":1129.847,"body":"and talk to the ice cream place."},{"startTime":1129.847,"endTime":1131.847,"body":"Every time you buy something"},{"startTime":1129.847,"endTime":1131.847,"body":"here, you got a free ice cream."},{"startTime":1131.847,"endTime":1133.867,"body":"Every time you buy an ice cream,"},{"startTime":1131.847,"endTime":1133.867,"body":"you get a little something here."},{"startTime":1134.367,"endTime":1139.727,"body":"That's the type of old school handshake,"},{"startTime":1134.367,"endTime":1139.727,"body":"let's help each other mentality that I"},{"startTime":1139.727,"endTime":1145.107,"body":"think does translate to something even as"},{"startTime":1139.727,"endTime":1145.107,"body":"big as Couch.com reaching out to Fanatics."},{"startTime":1145.587,"endTime":1147.227,"body":"It's really just this give and take thing."},{"startTime":1147.227,"endTime":1151.277,"body":"If you can get access to the individuals"},{"startTime":1147.227,"endTime":1151.277,"body":"who may be in a decision making"},{"startTime":1151.817,"endTime":1156.987,"body":"position, if you have a good pitch,"},{"startTime":1151.817,"endTime":1156.987,"body":"you can probably m ake something"},{"startTime":1156.987,"endTime":1159.661,"body":"happen, but I do have one specific tip."},{"startTime":1159.811,"endTime":1162.551,"body":"We, in my former business"},{"startTime":1159.811,"endTime":1162.551,"body":"and in Couch.com, we've"},{"startTime":1162.551,"endTime":1164.761,"body":"used contests and giveaways."},{"startTime":1165.241,"endTime":1170.001,"body":"Co-branded giveaways that are really"},{"startTime":1165.241,"endTime":1170.001,"body":"effective at bringing in  a lot of users"},{"startTime":1170.001,"endTime":1173.911,"body":"to your website and collecting a lot"},{"startTime":1170.001,"endTime":1173.911,"body":"of email addresses and phone numbers."},{"startTime":1174.381,"endTime":1177.011,"body":"Mind you, these people are signing"},{"startTime":1174.381,"endTime":1177.011,"body":"up to get something for free."},{"startTime":1177.011,"endTime":1179.351,"body":"They're not necessarily interested"},{"startTime":1177.011,"endTime":1179.351,"body":"in your product or service."},{"startTime":1179.511,"endTime":1182.091,"body":"So it's a volume play."},{"startTime":1182.401,"endTime":1185.451,"body":"But I'll just share some numbers"},{"startTime":1182.401,"endTime":1185.451,"body":"to get people interested in this."},{"startTime":1185.461,"endTime":1189.491,"body":"We're on this platform called Dojo"},{"startTime":1185.461,"endTime":1189.491,"body":"Mojo, and we've done a few branded"},{"startTime":1189.501,"endTime":1193.631,"body":"giveaways since November, and our"},{"startTime":1189.501,"endTime":1193.631,"body":"email list is around 75,000 people."},{"startTime":1194.151,"endTime":1198.331,"body":"So it, yeah and they're opening"},{"startTime":1194.151,"endTime":1198.331,"body":"emails, they're clicking, they're"},{"startTime":1198.331,"endTime":1201.781,"body":"engaging, not at a rate as the"},{"startTime":1198.331,"endTime":1201.781,"body":"people who've come in organically."},{"startTime":1202.206,"endTime":1205.646,"body":"But it's still really a valuable audience."},{"startTime":1205.686,"endTime":1210.566,"body":"And all we did was essentially just"},{"startTime":1205.686,"endTime":1210.566,"body":"partner up with a few cool brands,"},{"startTime":1210.966,"endTime":1214.756,"body":"and we all spray to our email lists"},{"startTime":1210.966,"endTime":1214.756,"body":"that we're doing this fun co-branded"},{"startTime":1214.776,"endTime":1218.216,"body":"giveaway, create a little buzz"},{"startTime":1214.776,"endTime":1218.216,"body":"about it, all these people sign up."},{"startTime":1218.216,"endTime":1222.336,"body":"And then we all share information because"},{"startTime":1218.216,"endTime":1222.336,"body":"all the people who are signing up agree"},{"startTime":1222.336,"endTime":1225.236,"body":"to receive marketing from various places."},{"startTime":1225.536,"endTime":1229.256,"body":"Not my favorite marketing practice,"},{"startTime":1225.536,"endTime":1229.256,"body":"but it's definitely very effective."},{"startTime":1230.276,"endTime":1232.471,"body":"Well, I'm such a believer of testing."},{"startTime":1232.501,"endTime":1236.461,"body":"And so I think that there is such an"},{"startTime":1232.501,"endTime":1236.461,"body":"opportunity to test something like"},{"startTime":1236.461,"endTime":1237.791,"body":"that, where you are doing giveaways."},{"startTime":1237.791,"endTime":1240.711,"body":"And I know some of our retailers are"},{"startTime":1237.791,"endTime":1240.711,"body":"doing this, and I've heard the feedback."},{"startTime":1241.011,"endTime":1245.051,"body":"Some haven't gotten the best leads"},{"startTime":1241.011,"endTime":1245.051,"body":"from it, but here's the thing."},{"startTime":1245.811,"endTime":1248.921,"body":"Definitely not all those people"},{"startTime":1245.811,"endTime":1248.921,"body":"that join the email list are"},{"startTime":1248.921,"endTime":1250.341,"body":"going to be customers of yours."},{"startTime":1250.381,"endTime":1255.121,"body":"They're trying to win something for"},{"startTime":1250.381,"endTime":1255.121,"body":"free, but let's say that it is Couch.com"},{"startTime":1255.141,"endTime":1256.721,"body":"and I am in the market to buy a couch."},{"startTime":1256.721,"endTime":1259.221,"body":"And so I'm like, of course,"},{"startTime":1256.721,"endTime":1259.221,"body":"I'm going to enter to win."},{"startTime":1259.231,"endTime":1259.991,"body":"What if I win?"},{"startTime":1260.371,"endTime":1262.641,"body":"But now I am still a hot lead."},{"startTime":1262.641,"endTime":1265.181,"body":"I entered because I am"},{"startTime":1262.641,"endTime":1265.181,"body":"looking for a free couch."},{"startTime":1265.201,"endTime":1268.871,"body":"And so the key here is that"},{"startTime":1265.201,"endTime":1268.871,"body":"you've got to keep connecting and"},{"startTime":1268.871,"endTime":1271.221,"body":"keep talking to your customer."},{"startTime":1271.241,"endTime":1275.401,"body":"And a lot of our  independents feel"},{"startTime":1271.241,"endTime":1275.401,"body":"like they're bothering their email list."},{"startTime":1275.411,"endTime":1279.216,"body":"So they won't send emails and"},{"startTime":1275.411,"endTime":1279.216,"body":"they won't connect with them."},{"startTime":1279.216,"endTime":1281.116,"body":"But the thing is these big boxes."},{"startTime":1281.666,"endTime":1286.166,"body":"And I've seen it, they will email"},{"startTime":1281.666,"endTime":1286.166,"body":"every single day and people stay"},{"startTime":1286.166,"endTime":1288.756,"body":"on the list and stay engaged."},{"startTime":1289.006,"endTime":1291.686,"body":"So there's a very good chance that"},{"startTime":1289.006,"endTime":1291.686,"body":"somebody is listening to this right"},{"startTime":1291.686,"endTime":1293.736,"body":"now being like, they're that person."},{"startTime":1293.746,"endTime":1294.836,"body":"They don't want to be sending."},{"startTime":1295.506,"endTime":1297.856,"body":"Alex and I are telling you,"},{"startTime":1295.506,"endTime":1297.856,"body":"you've got to collect the email."},{"startTime":1297.906,"endTime":1299.276,"body":"You got to stay in contact."},{"startTime":1299.296,"endTime":1301.006,"body":"You see it in the furniture space, right?"},{"startTime":1301.006,"endTime":1302.286,"body":"They email every day."},{"startTime":1302.286,"endTime":1302.356,"body":"Okay."},{"startTime":1303.626,"endTime":1304.416,"body":"Every single day."},{"startTime":1304.716,"endTime":1308.306,"body":"And you say big box, if you"},{"startTime":1304.716,"endTime":1308.306,"body":"sign up for Pottery Barn emails,"},{"startTime":1308.316,"endTime":1312.636,"body":"you're going to get the same email"},{"startTime":1308.316,"endTime":1312.636,"body":"every single day, more or less."},{"startTime":1313.896,"endTime":1317.086,"body":"Their strategy is clearly just send."},{"startTime":1317.086,"endTime":1320.366,"body":"Now they have, because they're"},{"startTime":1317.086,"endTime":1320.366,"body":"such an established brand, they"},{"startTime":1320.366,"endTime":1322.476,"body":"have  a great sender authority."},{"startTime":1322.586,"endTime":1326.716,"body":"Email platforms like Google"},{"startTime":1322.586,"endTime":1326.716,"body":"and Yahoo, they'll favor those."},{"startTime":1326.726,"endTime":1328.716,"body":"So we do have to be"},{"startTime":1326.726,"endTime":1328.716,"body":"careful about what we do."},{"startTime":1328.716,"endTime":1330.616,"body":"We can't just be sending"},{"startTime":1328.716,"endTime":1330.616,"body":"emails willy nilly."},{"startTime":1330.866,"endTime":1334.186,"body":"But all I was going to say is"},{"startTime":1330.866,"endTime":1334.186,"body":"let's take our emotions out of it."},{"startTime":1334.196,"endTime":1336.286,"body":"Yeah, no one likes to be"},{"startTime":1334.196,"endTime":1336.286,"body":"sold to, no one likes to be"},{"startTime":1336.286,"endTime":1338.076,"body":"bothered, but look at the data."},{"startTime":1338.286,"endTime":1341.416,"body":"If the customers are opening it,"},{"startTime":1338.286,"endTime":1341.416,"body":"if you have a good open rate, if"},{"startTime":1341.426,"endTime":1343.016,"body":"you have a decent engagement rate."},{"startTime":1343.406,"endTime":1344.596,"body":"Try doing more."},{"startTime":1344.696,"endTime":1346.816,"body":"If that decreases, then stop."},{"startTime":1347.106,"endTime":1348.796,"body":"If it doesn't, then keep going."},{"startTime":1348.906,"endTime":1351.056,"body":"And it can be as simple as that."},{"startTime":1351.056,"endTime":1354.116,"body":"If you remove your emotions and"},{"startTime":1351.056,"endTime":1354.116,"body":"take your brain out of it for a"},{"startTime":1354.116,"endTime":1357.286,"body":"minute, just really focus on the"},{"startTime":1354.116,"endTime":1357.286,"body":"actual results of what you're doing."},{"startTime":1357.476,"endTime":1358.236,"body":"It could be very helpful."},{"startTime":1359.316,"endTime":1359.776,"body":"I agree."},{"startTime":1359.776,"endTime":1362.356,"body":"That's actually excellent advice"},{"startTime":1359.776,"endTime":1362.356,"body":"when it comes to marketing of really"},{"startTime":1362.356,"endTime":1364.146,"body":"taking your emotions out of it."},{"startTime":1364.186,"endTime":1367.716,"body":"We want to appeal to the emotions"},{"startTime":1364.186,"endTime":1367.716,"body":"in our copy and imagery, but"},{"startTime":1367.966,"endTime":1369.196,"body":"we want to look at the data."},{"startTime":1369.446,"endTime":1373.436,"body":"And speaking of data, you said that"},{"startTime":1369.446,"endTime":1373.436,"body":"80 percent of furniture commerce"},{"startTime":1373.466,"endTime":1375.726,"body":"occurs at the brick and mortar level."},{"startTime":1375.936,"endTime":1379.596,"body":"Yet 80 percent of purchases"},{"startTime":1375.936,"endTime":1379.596,"body":"start with an online search."},{"startTime":1379.896,"endTime":1382.266,"body":"This seems like a massive opportunity."},{"startTime":1382.466,"endTime":1384.816,"body":"So how does Couch.com address this gap?"},{"startTime":1384.872,"endTime":1385.502,"body":"Great question."},{"startTime":1385.512,"endTime":1387.112,"body":"And it's sort of the question of the day."},{"startTime":1387.332,"endTime":1393.802,"body":"This is what really attracted me to this"},{"startTime":1387.332,"endTime":1393.802,"body":"idea of doing Couch.com, to be honest."},{"startTime":1393.803,"endTime":1397.608,"body":"And this will resonate with"},{"startTime":1393.803,"endTime":1397.608,"body":"this particular audience that is"},{"startTime":1397.608,"endTime":1399.511,"body":"listening and watching right now."},{"startTime":1399.511,"endTime":1404.462,"body":"It's like I was burnt out from"},{"startTime":1399.511,"endTime":1404.462,"body":"customers and from running a retail"},{"startTime":1404.462,"endTime":1409.432,"body":"operation for so long and national"},{"startTime":1404.462,"endTime":1409.432,"body":"distribution, like it takes a toll."},{"startTime":1409.682,"endTime":1413.642,"body":"And I decided that I didn't"},{"startTime":1409.682,"endTime":1413.642,"body":"want that lifestyle anymore."},{"startTime":1413.682,"endTime":1418.517,"body":"And yet I have so much experience in"},{"startTime":1413.682,"endTime":1418.517,"body":"furniture and I have kids, I got a"},{"startTime":1418.517,"endTime":1420.097,"body":"lot of expenses, I need to make money."},{"startTime":1420.097,"endTime":1421.087,"body":"So I'm like, okay, what do I do?"},{"startTime":1421.087,"endTime":1421.567,"body":"What do I do?"},{"startTime":1422.097,"endTime":1425.367,"body":"And then I had this aha moment"},{"startTime":1422.097,"endTime":1425.367,"body":"that there's this entire"},{"startTime":1425.417,"endTime":1430.187,"body":"audience that is being completely"},{"startTime":1425.417,"endTime":1430.187,"body":"underserved in the online space."},{"startTime":1430.747,"endTime":1435.127,"body":"And that is the brick and mortar"},{"startTime":1430.747,"endTime":1435.127,"body":"furniture retailers of America."},{"startTime":1435.767,"endTime":1441.657,"body":"80 percent of the commerce is done"},{"startTime":1435.767,"endTime":1441.657,"body":"in the retail stores still, as much"},{"startTime":1441.657,"endTime":1444.137,"body":"as we start our journeys online."},{"startTime":1444.147,"endTime":1444.827,"body":"We get all this on."},{"startTime":1444.827,"endTime":1446.367,"body":", get emails every day from Pottery Barn."},{"startTime":1447.062,"endTime":1448.612,"body":"80 percent is still done in store."},{"startTime":1448.722,"endTime":1453.752,"body":"And all those retailers, a lot of them"},{"startTime":1448.722,"endTime":1453.752,"body":"are really struggling because as much as"},{"startTime":1453.752,"endTime":1457.962,"body":"there's still so much business being done"},{"startTime":1453.752,"endTime":1457.962,"body":"there, they're losing market share, and"},{"startTime":1457.962,"endTime":1462.802,"body":"they're also spending a lot of advertising"},{"startTime":1457.962,"endTime":1462.802,"body":"dollars in places that they have no"},{"startTime":1462.802,"endTime":1466.552,"body":"idea what they're doing because that's"},{"startTime":1462.802,"endTime":1466.552,"body":"not really the core of their business."},{"startTime":1466.592,"endTime":1470.367,"body":"They're not online marketers and that's"},{"startTime":1466.592,"endTime":1470.367,"body":"where you have to be right now to get"},{"startTime":1470.367,"endTime":1473.067,"body":"new customers to acquire and to retain."},{"startTime":1473.477,"endTime":1478.597,"body":"So Couch.com is a platform that is"},{"startTime":1473.477,"endTime":1478.597,"body":"democratizing the furniture industry"},{"startTime":1478.597,"endTime":1484.287,"body":"by offering these brands the ability"},{"startTime":1478.597,"endTime":1484.287,"body":"to have a big presence on our site."},{"startTime":1484.867,"endTime":1489.327,"body":"So there's a huge chain on the West"},{"startTime":1484.867,"endTime":1489.327,"body":"coast where I live called Living Spaces."},{"startTime":1489.867,"endTime":1492.227,"body":"They do multiple billions of dollars."},{"startTime":1492.337,"endTime":1496.157,"body":"And  they have a nice website, but"},{"startTime":1492.337,"endTime":1496.157,"body":"it's mostly brick and mortar focused."},{"startTime":1496.637,"endTime":1499.717,"body":"They really don't have that much of"},{"startTime":1496.637,"endTime":1499.717,"body":"an online presence as big as they are."},{"startTime":1499.717,"endTime":1503.447,"body":"They advertise on TV, they do all"},{"startTime":1499.717,"endTime":1503.447,"body":"the local brick and mortar bells"},{"startTime":1503.447,"endTime":1504.847,"body":"and whistles that we're all used to."},{"startTime":1504.897,"endTime":1505.497,"body":"It works."},{"startTime":1505.607,"endTime":1506.667,"body":"They're very successful."},{"startTime":1507.129,"endTime":1511.729,"body":"there's a lot of opportunity out there"},{"startTime":1507.129,"endTime":1511.729,"body":"to really go after these other customers."},{"startTime":1512.539,"endTime":1517.039,"body":"And then these mom and pops' that maybe"},{"startTime":1512.539,"endTime":1517.039,"body":"they've been around for 50 years and"},{"startTime":1517.039,"endTime":1520.369,"body":"it's a second generation business and"},{"startTime":1517.039,"endTime":1520.369,"body":"they've just done things the same way"},{"startTime":1520.369,"endTime":1522.649,"body":"and their sales are slowly declining."},{"startTime":1523.179,"endTime":1527.319,"body":"Having a place where they can have"},{"startTime":1523.179,"endTime":1527.319,"body":"a branded page that's all about Big"},{"startTime":1527.319,"endTime":1530.219,"body":"Al's furniture and what they do great."},{"startTime":1530.764,"endTime":1535.084,"body":"Right next to a page for Pottery"},{"startTime":1530.764,"endTime":1535.084,"body":"Barn, right next to a page for Wayfair"},{"startTime":1535.654,"endTime":1539.434,"body":"sort of democratizing like these are"},{"startTime":1535.654,"endTime":1539.434,"body":"options that you have as a customer."},{"startTime":1539.434,"endTime":1542.144,"body":"You don't have to buy from Wayfair"},{"startTime":1539.434,"endTime":1542.144,"body":"just because they have the most money."},{"startTime":1542.674,"endTime":1544.254,"body":"You can go to Big Al's Furniture."},{"startTime":1544.264,"endTime":1547.094,"body":"There are nice people that are going"},{"startTime":1544.264,"endTime":1547.094,"body":"to take care of you and they sell the"},{"startTime":1547.104,"endTime":1549.154,"body":"best sleeper sofas in Los Angeles."},{"startTime":1549.361,"endTime":1550.341,"body":"Yeah, exactly."},{"startTime":1550.341,"endTime":1554.571,"body":"And that's the thing, that's what I"},{"startTime":1550.341,"endTime":1554.571,"body":"love about your model is that it is"},{"startTime":1554.571,"endTime":1559.031,"body":"helping the independents have that"},{"startTime":1554.571,"endTime":1559.031,"body":"online presence because to your point,"},{"startTime":1559.081,"endTime":1564.371,"body":"and I'm sure this across different"},{"startTime":1559.081,"endTime":1564.371,"body":"industries, the stats got to be similar."},{"startTime":1564.491,"endTime":1565.886,"body":"We're starting online."},{"startTime":1565.896,"endTime":1570.306,"body":"We're doing our research there, but"},{"startTime":1565.896,"endTime":1570.306,"body":"we are still going into physical"},{"startTime":1570.306,"endTime":1574.876,"body":"storefronts and we got to make sure that"},{"startTime":1570.306,"endTime":1574.876,"body":"we're showing up and we're connecting."},{"startTime":1574.876,"endTime":1577.056,"body":"If we don't show up, we don't exist."},{"startTime":1577.066,"endTime":1581.356,"body":"So we have to make sure that we're"},{"startTime":1577.066,"endTime":1581.356,"body":"showing up online and the fact that they"},{"startTime":1581.356,"endTime":1583.576,"body":"can be right next to the big box too."},{"startTime":1583.576,"endTime":1588.446,"body":"But just really how you're helping"},{"startTime":1583.576,"endTime":1588.446,"body":"the consumer understand what's best"},{"startTime":1588.446,"endTime":1592.366,"body":"for them, what products best for them,"},{"startTime":1588.446,"endTime":1592.366,"body":"and then they can make those choices."},{"startTime":1592.366,"endTime":1596.216,"body":"I think it's really smart, and I'd love to"},{"startTime":1592.366,"endTime":1596.216,"body":"see that across other industries as well."},{"startTime":1597.361,"endTime":1598.271,"body":"Yeah, right?"},{"startTime":1598.311,"endTime":1603.011,"body":"There's so much, there's so much of"},{"startTime":1598.311,"endTime":1603.011,"body":"this happening and a lot of online"},{"startTime":1603.021,"endTime":1606.831,"body":"retailers, like purely online, just"},{"startTime":1603.021,"endTime":1606.831,"body":"pretend that there's no brick and mortar"},{"startTime":1606.831,"endTime":1609.711,"body":"stores in this world that they've all"},{"startTime":1606.831,"endTime":1609.711,"body":"disappeared, but that's not the case."},{"startTime":1610.211,"endTime":1610.961,"body":"They're still here."},{"startTime":1610.961,"endTime":1612.061,"body":"We still go into them."},{"startTime":1612.441,"endTime":1613.001,"body":"So why not?"},{"startTime":1613.051,"endTime":1617.431,"body":"I really believe in this move towards"},{"startTime":1613.051,"endTime":1617.431,"body":"everything being a lot more omni channel."},{"startTime":1617.691,"endTime":1620.151,"body":"And I think that's what we're"},{"startTime":1617.691,"endTime":1620.151,"body":"going to see in the coming years"},{"startTime":1620.151,"endTime":1623.461,"body":"because brick and mortar retail,"},{"startTime":1620.151,"endTime":1623.461,"body":"it's not going to go anywhere."},{"startTime":1623.461,"endTime":1624.591,"body":"And we're still around."},{"startTime":1624.591,"endTime":1628.771,"body":"So we have to really mend"},{"startTime":1624.591,"endTime":1628.771,"body":"the two mediums together, the"},{"startTime":1628.771,"endTime":1630.061,"body":"online and the brick and mortar."},{"startTime":1630.936,"endTime":1631.876,"body":"Absolutely."},{"startTime":1632.156,"endTime":1636.036,"body":"All right, let's talk about AI"},{"startTime":1632.156,"endTime":1636.036,"body":"because AI is  revolutionizing"},{"startTime":1636.036,"endTime":1637.456,"body":"the shopping experience."},{"startTime":1638.066,"endTime":1641.979,"body":"And especially with big ticket items,"},{"startTime":1638.066,"endTime":1641.979,"body":"but I feel like across the board."},{"startTime":1642.429,"endTime":1647.419,"body":"And so can you share examples of how"},{"startTime":1642.429,"endTime":1647.419,"body":"Couch.com is utilizing AI in this"},{"startTime":1647.419,"endTime":1651.479,"body":"way and discuss the potential impact"},{"startTime":1647.419,"endTime":1651.479,"body":"on the retail industry at large?"},{"startTime":1652.244,"endTime":1653.274,"body":"Yeah, absolutely."},{"startTime":1653.274,"endTime":1656.054,"body":"So we see a big opportunity."},{"startTime":1656.174,"endTime":1659.654,"body":"Everybody sees a big opportunity"},{"startTime":1656.174,"endTime":1659.654,"body":"with AI right now in various ways."},{"startTime":1659.654,"endTime":1664.964,"body":"And I think it's at this point a year"},{"startTime":1659.654,"endTime":1664.964,"body":"and a half into, it's like a huge boom."},{"startTime":1665.104,"endTime":1668.654,"body":"I think it's all affected all"},{"startTime":1665.104,"endTime":1668.654,"body":"of our lives in a positive"},{"startTime":1668.654,"endTime":1670.681,"body":"way, at least in a small sense."},{"startTime":1671.241,"endTime":1676.611,"body":"And I see a big opportunity for"},{"startTime":1671.241,"endTime":1676.611,"body":"us to really make the customer"},{"startTime":1676.611,"endTime":1682.166,"body":"buying journey a lot more pleasant"},{"startTime":1676.611,"endTime":1682.166,"body":"and easy for buying a couch."},{"startTime":1682.186,"endTime":1686.056,"body":"It's really difficult when people"},{"startTime":1682.186,"endTime":1686.056,"body":"dip their toe into buying furniture."},{"startTime":1686.056,"endTime":1687.736,"body":"They realize Oh, wait a second."},{"startTime":1688.086,"endTime":1689.346,"body":"How much space do we have?"},{"startTime":1689.396,"endTime":1691.296,"body":"Oh, is this going to be okay for my cats?"},{"startTime":1691.546,"endTime":1692.976,"body":"Oh, I have to wait 12 weeks."},{"startTime":1693.026,"endTime":1694.696,"body":"There are all these different variables."},{"startTime":1694.706,"endTime":1697.786,"body":"So when you have something that's very"},{"startTime":1694.706,"endTime":1697.786,"body":"complicated to buy or even like you"},{"startTime":1697.786,"endTime":1700.786,"body":"see it a lot with skincare products,"},{"startTime":1697.786,"endTime":1700.786,"body":"they've been doing this for years."},{"startTime":1700.786,"endTime":1704.156,"body":"There's this idea of bringing"},{"startTime":1700.786,"endTime":1704.156,"body":"people in with a quiz."},{"startTime":1704.876,"endTime":1708.811,"body":"Getting information from them and then"},{"startTime":1704.876,"endTime":1708.811,"body":"offering them a personalized journey"},{"startTime":1709.031,"endTime":1713.681,"body":"based on their skin tone or their"},{"startTime":1709.031,"endTime":1713.681,"body":"preferences, because it's so nuanced."},{"startTime":1714.051,"endTime":1718.251,"body":"It's quite similar to furniture and"},{"startTime":1714.051,"endTime":1718.251,"body":"that like their couches to some people"},{"startTime":1718.251,"endTime":1722.171,"body":"that may like, yo, this couch looks"},{"startTime":1718.251,"endTime":1722.171,"body":"like that couch, but there's so many"},{"startTime":1722.171,"endTime":1726.261,"body":"different variables, the seat depth, the"},{"startTime":1722.171,"endTime":1726.261,"body":"height, the, everything, the material."},{"startTime":1726.301,"endTime":1730.671,"body":"So getting information from customers"},{"startTime":1726.301,"endTime":1730.671,"body":"using an AI powered quiz, and something"},{"startTime":1730.671,"endTime":1735.456,"body":"very easy and conversational, is I"},{"startTime":1730.671,"endTime":1735.456,"body":"think the key to making customers"},{"startTime":1735.456,"endTime":1739.496,"body":"feel more comfortable and ultimately"},{"startTime":1735.456,"endTime":1739.496,"body":"will reduce the amount of time"},{"startTime":1739.496,"endTime":1741.156,"body":"that it takes for them to convert."},{"startTime":1742.556,"endTime":1748.016,"body":"Yep, and that is another piece"},{"startTime":1742.556,"endTime":1748.016,"body":"of gold advice because I am"},{"startTime":1748.016,"endTime":1749.656,"body":"such a believer of the quiz."},{"startTime":1750.096,"endTime":1752.356,"body":"We want what's best for us."},{"startTime":1752.956,"endTime":1757.016,"body":"And depending on your industry, sometimes"},{"startTime":1752.956,"endTime":1757.016,"body":"that's really hard to self identify."},{"startTime":1757.356,"endTime":1761.676,"body":"So if you have that quiz, it feels"},{"startTime":1757.356,"endTime":1761.676,"body":"like a next level of service."},{"startTime":1762.286,"endTime":1766.636,"body":"Like you're really getting to know"},{"startTime":1762.286,"endTime":1766.636,"body":"me so you can deliver results that"},{"startTime":1766.706,"endTime":1769.231,"body":"are based for me, we feel special."},{"startTime":1769.251,"endTime":1774.941,"body":"I just feel like that's a nice enhancement"},{"startTime":1769.251,"endTime":1774.941,"body":"to the whole working with your customers."},{"startTime":1775.391,"endTime":1777.821,"body":"And I don't see a lot"},{"startTime":1775.391,"endTime":1777.821,"body":"of independents do this."},{"startTime":1777.861,"endTime":1779.001,"body":"I don't know about you, Alex."},{"startTime":1779.001,"endTime":1783.121,"body":"I'll see it for some big boxes, but"},{"startTime":1779.001,"endTime":1783.121,"body":"it's so something that brick and"},{"startTime":1783.131,"endTime":1788.411,"body":"mortar independents can set up pretty"},{"startTime":1783.131,"endTime":1788.411,"body":"fast, post on social, send through"},{"startTime":1788.491,"endTime":1790.801,"body":"email, have it on your website."},{"startTime":1790.981,"endTime":1792.721,"body":"And really connect and"},{"startTime":1790.981,"endTime":1792.721,"body":"help your customers."},{"startTime":1792.731,"endTime":1793.541,"body":"Such a great tip."},{"startTime":1793.914,"endTime":1794.184,"body":"Yeah."},{"startTime":1794.204,"endTime":1799.294,"body":"I'm actually on an advisory board"},{"startTime":1794.204,"endTime":1799.294,"body":"of this company that makes quizzes."},{"startTime":1799.314,"endTime":1801.244,"body":"They're one of the first"},{"startTime":1799.314,"endTime":1801.244,"body":"people that did online quizzes."},{"startTime":1801.244,"endTime":1802.714,"body":"It's called Octane AI."},{"startTime":1803.324,"endTime":1806.854,"body":"They've been crushing, but they"},{"startTime":1803.324,"endTime":1806.854,"body":"like mostly focus on Shopify."},{"startTime":1807.254,"endTime":1809.609,"body":"So if you have a Shopify store"},{"startTime":1807.254,"endTime":1809.609,"body":"and you want to dabble in a"},{"startTime":1809.609,"endTime":1811.629,"body":"quiz, check out Octane AI."},{"startTime":1811.669,"endTime":1815.399,"body":"Even if your quiz is like two questions,"},{"startTime":1811.669,"endTime":1815.399,"body":"it doesn't have to be some crazy thing."},{"startTime":1815.399,"endTime":1816.829,"body":"Psychologically, think about it."},{"startTime":1816.849,"endTime":1820.089,"body":"It's like the same thing as a"},{"startTime":1816.849,"endTime":1820.089,"body":"salesperson saying, \"Hi, welcome in."},{"startTime":1820.109,"endTime":1820.919,"body":"How can I help?"},{"startTime":1820.919,"endTime":1822.049,"body":"What are you looking for today?\""},{"startTime":1822.099,"endTime":1823.399,"body":"\"Oh, you're looking for bagels."},{"startTime":1823.399,"endTime":1825.819,"body":"The bagels are over there,\""},{"startTime":1823.399,"endTime":1825.819,"body":"or you're looking for pizza."},{"startTime":1826.059,"endTime":1827.059,"body":"\"The pizza's over there.\""},{"startTime":1827.489,"endTime":1831.879,"body":"Customers then feel like they are"},{"startTime":1827.489,"endTime":1831.879,"body":"having at least an experience that"},{"startTime":1831.879,"endTime":1833.529,"body":"is catered towards what they need."},{"startTime":1833.539,"endTime":1837.289,"body":"Psychologically, it makes them feel"},{"startTime":1833.539,"endTime":1837.289,"body":"like they're in the right place to get"},{"startTime":1837.289,"endTime":1841.169,"body":"that bagel or that pizza just by someone"},{"startTime":1837.289,"endTime":1841.169,"body":"saying, \"Are you looking for bagels?\""},{"startTime":1841.199,"endTime":1841.579,"body":"\"Yes.\""},{"startTime":1841.889,"endTime":1842.949,"body":"\"They're over there.\""},{"startTime":1842.949,"endTime":1845.269,"body":"People like to be directed,"},{"startTime":1842.949,"endTime":1845.269,"body":"especially when they're buying"},{"startTime":1845.269,"endTime":1848.949,"body":"difficult products or searching for"},{"startTime":1845.269,"endTime":1848.949,"body":"a gift or whatever anybody sells."},{"startTime":1849.399,"endTime":1852.899,"body":"Even if the quiz is just,"},{"startTime":1849.399,"endTime":1852.899,"body":"what are you looking for?"},{"startTime":1852.909,"endTime":1855.059,"body":"What type of style are you interested in?"},{"startTime":1855.439,"endTime":1856.299,"body":"And that's it."},{"startTime":1856.349,"endTime":1858.359,"body":"And then you filter results based on."},{"startTime":1858.859,"endTime":1861.519,"body":"That just psychologically, I think"},{"startTime":1858.859,"endTime":1861.519,"body":"the customer is going to feel like"},{"startTime":1861.519,"endTime":1863.179,"body":"they're being really well taken care of."},{"startTime":1863.964,"endTime":1865.304,"body":"Yep, I couldn't agree more."},{"startTime":1865.334,"endTime":1869.104,"body":"And then I think then you're"},{"startTime":1865.334,"endTime":1869.104,"body":"building that lifelong relationship."},{"startTime":1869.214,"endTime":1871.464,"body":"They might even be purchasing more."},{"startTime":1871.504,"endTime":1874.954,"body":"So you're increasing your ticket"},{"startTime":1871.504,"endTime":1874.954,"body":"item there or the average sale."},{"startTime":1874.974,"endTime":1876.334,"body":"There's so much to that."},{"startTime":1876.734,"endTime":1881.324,"body":"Now as AI and other technologies"},{"startTime":1876.734,"endTime":1881.324,"body":"continue to EVOLVE, what future trends"},{"startTime":1881.334,"endTime":1885.624,"body":"do you foresee in the retail industry,"},{"startTime":1881.334,"endTime":1885.624,"body":"especially concerning big ticket items?"},{"startTime":1886.339,"endTime":1890.746,"body":"So one, that's a great question"},{"startTime":1886.339,"endTime":1890.746,"body":"because as I said earlier, like big"},{"startTime":1890.776,"endTime":1894.936,"body":"ticket items are different and you"},{"startTime":1890.776,"endTime":1894.936,"body":"have to really consider the customer's"},{"startTime":1894.946,"endTime":1896.816,"body":"mindset when buying a big ticket item."},{"startTime":1897.706,"endTime":1900.536,"body":"And I also said this before too, the"},{"startTime":1897.706,"endTime":1900.536,"body":"conversion rate for big ticket items"},{"startTime":1900.536,"endTime":1905.801,"body":"online is drastically lower, like"},{"startTime":1900.536,"endTime":1905.801,"body":"drastically, like one 10th at times of"},{"startTime":1905.801,"endTime":1907.241,"body":"what it is for smaller ticket items."},{"startTime":1907.251,"endTime":1910.801,"body":"So you think about that and you"},{"startTime":1907.251,"endTime":1910.801,"body":"think about the why in the furniture"},{"startTime":1910.801,"endTime":1913.851,"body":"space, I think a big part of the"},{"startTime":1910.801,"endTime":1913.851,"body":"why is that people can't see it"},{"startTime":1913.941,"endTime":1915.551,"body":"in person or feel it or touch it."},{"startTime":1916.231,"endTime":1919.381,"body":"The feeling and the touch it is"},{"startTime":1916.231,"endTime":1919.381,"body":"something that can be addressed in"},{"startTime":1919.431,"endTime":1923.391,"body":"certain ways, like sending fabric"},{"startTime":1919.431,"endTime":1923.391,"body":"samples or wood samples in our industry."},{"startTime":1923.801,"endTime":1927.151,"body":"Physical catalog, just having a physical"},{"startTime":1923.801,"endTime":1927.151,"body":"touch point is generally helpful,"},{"startTime":1927.591,"endTime":1931.281,"body":"but from a technological standpoint,"},{"startTime":1927.591,"endTime":1931.281,"body":"being able to visualize something in"},{"startTime":1931.281,"endTime":1934.111,"body":"your space makes it so much more real."},{"startTime":1934.937,"endTime":1937.857,"body":"Visualization tool, I've had my finger"},{"startTime":1934.937,"endTime":1937.857,"body":"on the pulse of this for a while."},{"startTime":1937.857,"endTime":1940.227,"body":"I've worked with various"},{"startTime":1937.857,"endTime":1940.227,"body":"technology partners over the years."},{"startTime":1940.627,"endTime":1943.747,"body":"I've worked in the furniture space"},{"startTime":1940.627,"endTime":1943.747,"body":"to help people see couches and dining"},{"startTime":1943.747,"endTime":1945.697,"body":"tables and beds in their actual rooms."},{"startTime":1946.287,"endTime":1949.737,"body":"This technology has been"},{"startTime":1946.287,"endTime":1949.737,"body":"evolving, 3d technology first,"},{"startTime":1949.737,"endTime":1951.367,"body":"and it was augmented reality."},{"startTime":1951.787,"endTime":1955.447,"body":"But now with AI, we've taken"},{"startTime":1951.787,"endTime":1955.447,"body":"like a major leap forward."},{"startTime":1955.557,"endTime":1957.627,"body":"And if anyone wants to play"},{"startTime":1955.557,"endTime":1957.627,"body":"around with it, it's very cool."},{"startTime":1957.627,"endTime":1961.677,"body":"On Wayfair, if you look for it, they"},{"startTime":1957.627,"endTime":1961.677,"body":"have this tool where you can just"},{"startTime":1961.707,"endTime":1964.957,"body":"upload a picture of your room and"},{"startTime":1961.707,"endTime":1964.957,"body":"you  click on a few things, like"},{"startTime":1964.957,"endTime":1966.427,"body":"what style you like or whatever."},{"startTime":1967.102,"endTime":1970.342,"body":"Then it shows you a picture of your room"},{"startTime":1967.102,"endTime":1970.342,"body":"with completely different furniture."},{"startTime":1970.342,"endTime":1973.032,"body":"It's still your room, it"},{"startTime":1970.342,"endTime":1973.032,"body":"looks exactly the same."},{"startTime":1973.122,"endTime":1974.082,"body":"Everything's realistic."},{"startTime":1974.082,"endTime":1975.912,"body":"It's not like a cartoony image of it."},{"startTime":1976.492,"endTime":1979.312,"body":"It looks it's totally real, and"},{"startTime":1976.492,"endTime":1979.312,"body":"then it shows you the products"},{"startTime":1979.312,"endTime":1981.152,"body":"that you can buy next to it."},{"startTime":1981.272,"endTime":1986.762,"body":"So like seeing a realistic image of  new"},{"startTime":1981.272,"endTime":1986.762,"body":"furniture in your room, replacing your"},{"startTime":1986.762,"endTime":1990.542,"body":"current furniture, that's not something"},{"startTime":1986.762,"endTime":1990.542,"body":"that existed until six months ago."},{"startTime":1991.302,"endTime":1995.537,"body":"So where it goes from here, I couldn't"},{"startTime":1991.302,"endTime":1995.537,"body":"tell you, but the visualization aspects,"},{"startTime":1995.957,"endTime":2001.307,"body":"we have these crazy, VR headsets now,"},{"startTime":1995.957,"endTime":2001.307,"body":"like it's really there's going to be a"},{"startTime":2001.307,"endTime":2004.297,"body":"big unlock for visualization through AI."},{"startTime":2005.192,"endTime":2008.502,"body":"Yeah, it's pretty nuts"},{"startTime":2005.192,"endTime":2008.502,"body":"how good it's getting."},{"startTime":2008.562,"endTime":2013.182,"body":"Like I feel like when it first rolled"},{"startTime":2008.562,"endTime":2013.182,"body":"out, it was kind of clunky, it was still"},{"startTime":2013.182,"endTime":2022.792,"body":"kind of cartoony and now in months it"},{"startTime":2013.182,"endTime":2022.792,"body":"just has completely gotten so good."},{"startTime":2023.382,"endTime":2026.202,"body":"And I feel like it's only just begun."},{"startTime":2026.622,"endTime":2029.392,"body":"So I feel like there's so many"},{"startTime":2026.622,"endTime":2029.392,"body":"opportunities and those are really great"},{"startTime":2029.392,"endTime":2031.992,"body":"points, especially with big ticket."},{"startTime":2032.272,"endTime":2035.102,"body":"Seeing those in our"},{"startTime":2032.272,"endTime":2035.102,"body":"houses or on our bodies."},{"startTime":2035.102,"endTime":2038.622,"body":"I feel again, I'm using the jeweler"},{"startTime":2035.102,"endTime":2038.622,"body":"example, but trying on rings and"},{"startTime":2038.622,"endTime":2040.002,"body":"seeing how those things look."},{"startTime":2040.582,"endTime":2047.212,"body":"Alex, do you have a website or maybe a"},{"startTime":2040.582,"endTime":2047.212,"body":"couple that you like or recommend to help"},{"startTime":2047.212,"endTime":2053.252,"body":"retailers generate some of those AI images"},{"startTime":2047.212,"endTime":2053.252,"body":"or those experiences to create a room"},{"startTime":2053.252,"endTime":2054.892,"body":"where they can then put their products in?"},{"startTime":2055.542,"endTime":2058.298,"body":"I'm actually partnered with this one"},{"startTime":2055.542,"endTime":2058.298,"body":"application that does this awesome"},{"startTime":2059.408,"endTime":2065.4,"body":"room scanning part of it, and then you"},{"startTime":2059.408,"endTime":2065.4,"body":"can put actual products in your room."},{"startTime":2065.8,"endTime":2069.49,"body":"It's not as like visual"},{"startTime":2065.8,"endTime":2069.49,"body":"as what I just described."},{"startTime":2069.49,"endTime":2072.02,"body":"It 's more like 3D and very spatial."},{"startTime":2072.46,"endTime":2076.97,"body":"But it can give you an idea, maybe, and"},{"startTime":2072.46,"endTime":2076.97,"body":"inspire you about to find other tools"},{"startTime":2076.97,"endTime":2078.89,"body":"that are specific to your industry."},{"startTime":2079.2,"endTime":2082.42,"body":"I think you want to find a"},{"startTime":2079.2,"endTime":2082.42,"body":"partner that's for your industry."},{"startTime":2082.42,"endTime":2085.54,"body":"I know this because I worked"},{"startTime":2082.42,"endTime":2085.54,"body":"with an augmented reality partner"},{"startTime":2085.54,"endTime":2091.46,"body":"that did an amazing job with"},{"startTime":2085.54,"endTime":2091.46,"body":"floors and flooring and textiles."},{"startTime":2091.47,"endTime":2093.68,"body":"Like they crush, they were amazing."},{"startTime":2094.1,"endTime":2096.45,"body":"And they were like, \"Oh we"},{"startTime":2094.1,"endTime":2096.45,"body":"would like to try furniture.\""},{"startTime":2096.78,"endTime":2098.84,"body":"And it was like a little bit difficult."},{"startTime":2098.9,"endTime":2101.07,"body":"If they focused on furniture,"},{"startTime":2098.9,"endTime":2101.07,"body":"I think we would have just"},{"startTime":2101.29,"endTime":2102.47,"body":"knocked it out of the park."},{"startTime":2102.47,"endTime":2104.21,"body":"So let's keep using jewelry."},{"startTime":2104.21,"endTime":2109.25,"body":"I would really look around like jewelry"},{"startTime":2104.21,"endTime":2109.25,"body":"AI, like all these companies are spending"},{"startTime":2109.25,"endTime":2111.02,"body":"a lot of money to advertise to you."},{"startTime":2111.02,"endTime":2114.64,"body":"So if you start doing some searches,"},{"startTime":2111.02,"endTime":2114.64,"body":"I bet some opportunities will pop up,"},{"startTime":2115.13,"endTime":2118.93,"body":"but this application that I'm referring"},{"startTime":2115.13,"endTime":2118.93,"body":"to, it's called Realize Design."},{"startTime":2119.68,"endTime":2121.8,"body":"And it's an iOS"},{"startTime":2119.68,"endTime":2121.8,"body":"application for your phone."},{"startTime":2121.82,"endTime":2122.95,"body":"It's so cool."},{"startTime":2123.02,"endTime":2125.83,"body":"I think it will give everybody"},{"startTime":2123.02,"endTime":2125.83,"body":"some inspiration about  what"},{"startTime":2125.83,"endTime":2128.94,"body":"they can do, and we're going to"},{"startTime":2125.83,"endTime":2128.94,"body":"be doing something with them."},{"startTime":2128.94,"endTime":2131.16,"body":"And we're gonna have them"},{"startTime":2128.94,"endTime":2131.16,"body":"heavily featured on Couch.com."},{"startTime":2131.865,"endTime":2132.855,"body":"Very cool."},{"startTime":2132.875,"endTime":2134.315,"body":"Oh, I can't wait to check it out myself."},{"startTime":2134.365,"endTime":2136.165,"body":"Awesome, thank you for sharing that."},{"startTime":2136.205,"endTime":2136.795,"body":"That's cool."},{"startTime":2137.355,"endTime":2141.535,"body":"Okay, so for retailers struggling to keep"},{"startTime":2137.355,"endTime":2141.535,"body":"up with the rapid changes in the market,"},{"startTime":2141.545,"endTime":2144.765,"body":"some of these that we're talking about"},{"startTime":2141.545,"endTime":2144.765,"body":"right now, what advice do you have to help"},{"startTime":2144.765,"endTime":2150.275,"body":"them navigate these waters effectively and"},{"startTime":2144.765,"endTime":2150.275,"body":"maintain or increase their market share?"},{"startTime":2150.995,"endTime":2156.445,"body":"Yeah, I think the biggest thing for me,"},{"startTime":2150.995,"endTime":2156.445,"body":"as someone who ran a small business was"},{"startTime":2156.445,"endTime":2162.685,"body":"just being open to opportunities and"},{"startTime":2156.445,"endTime":2162.685,"body":"seeking them out and being open to them."},{"startTime":2163.155,"endTime":2166.185,"body":"And I've been doing this, I've been"},{"startTime":2163.155,"endTime":2166.185,"body":"talking to a ton of people over"},{"startTime":2166.185,"endTime":2169.545,"body":"the last two months and the amount"},{"startTime":2166.185,"endTime":2169.545,"body":"of opportunities that have come"},{"startTime":2169.545,"endTime":2171.595,"body":"my way for Couch.com is immense."},{"startTime":2171.645,"endTime":2175.875,"body":"Only because I've offered my"},{"startTime":2171.645,"endTime":2175.875,"body":"time and wanted to chat about"},{"startTime":2175.875,"endTime":2179.375,"body":"retail with a very interesting,"},{"startTime":2175.875,"endTime":2179.375,"body":"knowledgeable person or whatever it"},{"startTime":2179.375,"endTime":2180.975,"body":"is like these things really help."},{"startTime":2181.325,"endTime":2184.555,"body":"So I think getting out there and not"},{"startTime":2181.325,"endTime":2184.555,"body":"staying insulated is really important."},{"startTime":2185.255,"endTime":2188.675,"body":"The other thing that's in the same vein"},{"startTime":2185.255,"endTime":2188.675,"body":"is just staying connected to what's"},{"startTime":2188.675,"endTime":2191.695,"body":"going on in retail and in the industry."},{"startTime":2191.715,"endTime":2196.395,"body":"Like you can catch on to some"},{"startTime":2191.715,"endTime":2196.395,"body":"early trends by just reading some"},{"startTime":2196.395,"endTime":2199.865,"body":"articles and things like that, like I"},{"startTime":2196.395,"endTime":2199.865,"body":"subscribed to a really cool newsletter."},{"startTime":2199.865,"endTime":2204.075,"body":"It's the acronym TLDR;"},{"startTime":2199.865,"endTime":2204.075,"body":"too long, didn't read."},{"startTime":2204.625,"endTime":2205.265,"body":"Oh, nice."},{"startTime":2205.435,"endTime":2208.845,"body":"TLDR like marketing, TLDR Founders."},{"startTime":2208.845,"endTime":2212.765,"body":"And it's like one of these digest,"},{"startTime":2208.845,"endTime":2212.765,"body":"like theSkimm does for like actual"},{"startTime":2212.765,"endTime":2214.395,"body":"world news and things of that nature."},{"startTime":2214.935,"endTime":2217.735,"body":"You subscribe to the"},{"startTime":2214.935,"endTime":2217.735,"body":"right online publication."},{"startTime":2217.735,"endTime":2219.065,"body":"They'll send you an email every morning."},{"startTime":2219.065,"endTime":2221.025,"body":"You just go through it while"},{"startTime":2219.065,"endTime":2221.025,"body":"you're having your coffee."},{"startTime":2221.595,"endTime":2224.125,"body":"And if there's an article there"},{"startTime":2221.595,"endTime":2224.125,"body":"that interests you about, if you're"},{"startTime":2224.125,"endTime":2227.415,"body":"thinking about doing TikTok ads, and"},{"startTime":2224.125,"endTime":2227.415,"body":"it's about TikTok ads, just read it."},{"startTime":2228.045,"endTime":2229.365,"body":"I do this every single day."},{"startTime":2229.365,"endTime":2230.785,"body":"I devote the time to doing it."},{"startTime":2231.205,"endTime":2235.975,"body":"And what I do is I have this other"},{"startTime":2231.205,"endTime":2235.975,"body":"app that I use too, that reads"},{"startTime":2235.975,"endTime":2239.025,"body":"it to me, because I don't like"},{"startTime":2235.975,"endTime":2239.025,"body":"sit there and read for very long."},{"startTime":2239.565,"endTime":2243.185,"body":"So when I'm exercising or with my kids"},{"startTime":2239.565,"endTime":2243.185,"body":"or driving somewhere, I'm listening"},{"startTime":2243.185,"endTime":2247.005,"body":"to business articles all the time"},{"startTime":2243.185,"endTime":2247.005,"body":"about marketing, about retail, and"},{"startTime":2247.005,"endTime":2248.285,"body":"just keeping my finger on them."},{"startTime":2248.425,"endTime":2250.375,"body":"I'm crazy though, I'm not saying"},{"startTime":2248.425,"endTime":2250.375,"body":"everyone needs to do this."},{"startTime":2250.475,"endTime":2251.725,"body":"This is what I enjoy."},{"startTime":2252.155,"endTime":2254.305,"body":"So it's been very helpful for me."},{"startTime":2255.03,"endTime":2258.5,"body":"Yeah, those are great tips and I'll"},{"startTime":2255.03,"endTime":2258.5,"body":"have to check out Too Long, Didn't"},{"startTime":2258.51,"endTime":2260.77,"body":"Read that's hilarious, I love that."},{"startTime":2261.24,"endTime":2262.9,"body":"That is really good, that's a good tip."},{"startTime":2263.23,"endTime":2265.61,"body":"All right, Alex, are you ready"},{"startTime":2263.23,"endTime":2265.61,"body":"for the resilience round?"},{"startTime":2266.135,"endTime":2266.415,"body":"I am."},{"startTime":2266.415,"endTime":2267.565,"body":"All right, let's do it."},{"startTime":2267.585,"endTime":2268.855,"body":"Best business book?"},{"startTime":2268.855,"endTime":2273.831,"body":"The best business book is"},{"startTime":2268.855,"endTime":2273.831,"body":"called Becoming Trader Joe."},{"startTime":2273.941,"endTime":2278.231,"body":"It's about the founder of Trader Joe's"},{"startTime":2273.941,"endTime":2278.231,"body":"and  the entire title is Becoming"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2278.231,"endTime":2282.931,"body":"How I Did Business My"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2278.231,"endTime":2282.931,"body":"Way and Still Beat the Big Guys."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2283.168,"endTime":2285.658,"body":"If you've ever been to Trader"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2283.168,"endTime":2285.658,"body":"Joe's, many of us have, some of"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2285.658,"endTime":2286.988,"body":"us haven't had the opportunity."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2287.038,"endTime":2290.893,"body":"It's like a different kind"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2287.038,"endTime":2290.893,"body":"of supermarket experience."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2291.113,"endTime":2296.953,"body":"It's a different vibe, and hearing"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2291.113,"endTime":2296.953,"body":"the origins of that and how this"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2297.023,"endTime":2302.003,"body":"particular man was a David to the"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2297.023,"endTime":2302.003,"body":"many Goliaths in the supermarket and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2302.003,"endTime":2305.863,"body":"wine and cheese industry, whatever"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2302.003,"endTime":2305.863,"body":"they do was really interesting."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2306.923,"endTime":2307.713,"body":"Oh, very cool."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2307.973,"endTime":2310.473,"body":"I love Trader Joe's, I have"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2307.973,"endTime":2310.473,"body":"to check that book out."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2310.473,"endTime":2311.573,"body":"That sounds very interesting."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2311.693,"endTime":2312.383,"body":"very cool."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2312.973,"endTime":2314.003,"body":"Cool, okay."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2314.033,"endTime":2316.403,"body":"Best retail technology,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2314.033,"endTime":2316.403,"body":"like an app or software?"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2317.583,"endTime":2321.883,"body":"So  this is basic and we've gotten"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2317.583,"endTime":2321.883,"body":"pretty detailed on a lot of things."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2322.343,"endTime":2325.383,"body":"I just really, really believe"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2322.343,"endTime":2325.383,"body":"in the Shopify platform."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2325.383,"endTime":2327.673,"body":"It was transformative for my business."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2327.893,"endTime":2332.983,"body":"And again, it seems generic and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2327.893,"endTime":2332.983,"body":"a generic take, but I would say"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2332.983,"endTime":2336.343,"body":"I believe in it so much that if"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2332.983,"endTime":2336.343,"body":"you're not operating on Shopify, I"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2336.343,"endTime":2337.823,"body":"would really consider replatforming."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2338.503,"endTime":2345.368,"body":"And the reason is that they are everybody,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2338.503,"endTime":2345.368,"body":"the e commerce and just retail ecosystem"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2345.368,"endTime":2348.908,"body":"is focused on Shopify first, almost."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2348.908,"endTime":2353.618,"body":"Now Big Commerce is up there too, but"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2348.908,"endTime":2353.618,"body":"Shopify is so easy to use and there's"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2353.678,"endTime":2357.258,"body":"access to so many amazing tools and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2353.678,"endTime":2357.258,"body":"widgets that are literally just click a"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2357.258,"endTime":2361.288,"body":"few buttons and it's there for you and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2357.258,"endTime":2361.288,"body":"it's up and running, it's intuitive."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2361.328,"endTime":2364.508,"body":"It's for the every person and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2361.328,"endTime":2364.508,"body":"not for the tech nerds only."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2365.048,"endTime":2369.058,"body":"So that's honestly the best tip I"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2365.048,"endTime":2369.058,"body":"can give is that if you're not using"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2369.058,"endTime":2370.878,"body":"Shopify, really consider doing it."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2371.843,"endTime":2372.663,"body":"Completely agree."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2372.763,"endTime":2373.633,"body":"Love Shopify."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2373.923,"endTime":2376.863,"body":"Now, we already talked about this, but"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2373.923,"endTime":2376.863,"body":"maybe have some additional things to add."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2376.873,"endTime":2379.583,"body":"How do you keep up with the"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2376.873,"endTime":2379.583,"body":"ever changing retail landscape?"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2380.713,"endTime":2384.583,"body":"Really I would say just, overall,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2380.713,"endTime":2384.583,"body":"in the theme of observing,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2384.883,"endTime":2386.213,"body":"and I know how hard it is."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2386.213,"endTime":2390.953,"body":"Like I've been in the weeds on the"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2386.213,"endTime":2390.953,"body":"day to day running a busy operation."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2390.953,"endTime":2394.993,"body":"And I just I wouldn't want to"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2390.953,"endTime":2394.993,"body":"look at retail, I wouldn't want"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2394.993,"endTime":2396.173,"body":"to look at other people's ads."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2396.183,"endTime":2397.943,"body":"I'm like, I don't want to,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2396.183,"endTime":2397.943,"body":"I get all these emails."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2397.943,"endTime":2399.083,"body":"I just would archive them."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2400.193,"endTime":2402.253,"body":"Take your time, bite the bullet."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2402.673,"endTime":2405.733,"body":"Look at everybody else's emails, look"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2402.673,"endTime":2405.733,"body":"at your competitors, see where they're"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2405.733,"endTime":2407.833,"body":"advertising, go into their stores."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2408.433,"endTime":2412.633,"body":"Just observe, even though it's like"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2408.433,"endTime":2412.633,"body":"a little bit heavy to do so sometimes"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2412.643,"endTime":2415.093,"body":"because it can make you feel like,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2412.643,"endTime":2415.093,"body":"\"Oh crap, I missed this\" or \"I'm"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2415.363,"endTime":2416.943,"body":"not doing this a good job of this.\""},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2417.483,"endTime":2418.343,"body":"It's really important."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2418.873,"endTime":2419.293,"body":"I agree."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2419.723,"endTime":2423.003,"body":"To help retailers be stronger,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2419.723,"endTime":2423.003,"body":"more rooted in success, what's a"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2423.003,"endTime":2425.023,"body":"selling foundational best practice?"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2425.883,"endTime":2426.263,"body":"Yeah."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2426.263,"endTime":2427.873,"body":"Sohave two ave things."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2427.896,"endTime":2431.613,"body":"One, the first thing is just"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2427.896,"endTime":2431.613,"body":"really figuring out what works."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2431.978,"endTime":2437.118,"body":"Not getting complacent with it, but"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2431.978,"endTime":2437.118,"body":"don't be afraid to work something"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2437.118,"endTime":2440.898,"body":"that's like work at hard, something"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2437.118,"endTime":2440.898,"body":"that's really working, whether that's,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2441.208,"endTime":2445.488,"body":"a promotion it's okay to run the"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2441.208,"endTime":2445.488,"body":"same promotion 50 different times."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2445.768,"endTime":2447.348,"body":"Customers don't really care that much."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2447.348,"endTime":2448.688,"body":"They're happy to get a good deal."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2449.018,"endTime":2451.798,"body":"Like we sometimes get fixated on"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2449.018,"endTime":2451.798,"body":"these things and like the newness."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2452.438,"endTime":2455.148,"body":"If an ad is working, I would say tweak it."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2455.248,"endTime":2458.958,"body":"Don't revamp it or do it over just"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2455.248,"endTime":2458.958,"body":"because you think you get bored"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2458.958,"endTime":2460.018,"body":"of it or your homepage slide."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2460.028,"endTime":2464.418,"body":"Like it's important to keep things fresh,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2460.028,"endTime":2464.418,"body":"but not as important as we all think."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2465.403,"endTime":2465.683,"body":"Ooh."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2466.163,"endTime":2466.323,"body":"So"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2466.448,"endTime":2466.828,"body":"yeah."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2467.398,"endTime":2469.558,"body":"And the other one is just"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2467.398,"endTime":2469.558,"body":"really focused on customers."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2469.598,"endTime":2472.618,"body":"As in the online world, it's"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2469.598,"endTime":2472.618,"body":"so easy to see them as numbers"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2472.988,"endTime":2474.918,"body":"or data analytics on a page."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2475.078,"endTime":2476.448,"body":"I'm super guilty of this."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2477.008,"endTime":2479.888,"body":"The end of the day, talking to"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2477.008,"endTime":2479.888,"body":"customers, getting feedback from"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2479.888,"endTime":2484.028,"body":"them, selling to them, taking care"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2479.888,"endTime":2484.028,"body":"of them when they buy something."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2484.028,"endTime":2486.728,"body":"They're people, you're"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2484.028,"endTime":2486.728,"body":"people, we're all people."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2487.218,"endTime":2488.378,"body":"Talk to the customers."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2488.983,"endTime":2490.513,"body":"Yep, I agree."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2490.823,"endTime":2491.423,"body":"So good."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2491.423,"endTime":2491.493,"body":"Absolutely."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2491.928,"endTime":2494.368,"body":"I recently heard P2P, people to people."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2494.388,"endTime":2495.948,"body":"It's no B2C or B2B."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2495.968,"endTime":2497.018,"body":"you know, It's just, we're"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2497.118,"endTime":2497.938,"body":"Oh, I never heard that."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2497.938,"endTime":2498.778,"body":"I like it, I'm writing that down."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2499.468,"endTime":2500.128,"body":"Yeah."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2500.558,"endTime":2504.148,"body":"If you had to start your business"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2500.558,"endTime":2504.148,"body":"all over again, what's one"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2504.148,"endTime":2505.188,"body":"thing you'd do differently?"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2505.858,"endTime":2508.528,"body":"I would focus on search"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2505.858,"endTime":2508.528,"body":"engine optimization."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2508.528,"endTime":2513.8,"body":"This is like something we all have all"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2508.528,"endTime":2513.8,"body":"heard, but if we're not technically"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2513.8,"endTime":2515.683,"body":"inclined, we're like, ugh, SEO."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2516.353,"endTime":2517.283,"body":"And there's so much of it."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2517.283,"endTime":2518.433,"body":"That's like kind of gross."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2518.463,"endTime":2521.223,"body":"You're like writing articles"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2518.463,"endTime":2521.223,"body":"that don't have much substance"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2521.223,"endTime":2523.063,"body":"and just are very keyword based."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2523.723,"endTime":2529.573,"body":"At the same time, I've learned over my"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2523.723,"endTime":2529.573,"body":"career that this is part of the game and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2529.573,"endTime":2532.593,"body":"it can literally translate to dollars."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2532.653,"endTime":2537.353,"body":"Like if you have a  page that ranks on"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2532.653,"endTime":2537.353,"body":"Google and people click on it, that's"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2537.403,"endTime":2540.893,"body":"every time someone clicks on that's"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2537.403,"endTime":2540.893,"body":"a dollar or $2 of Google advertising"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2540.893,"endTime":2542.123,"body":"that you didn't have to spend."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2542.583,"endTime":2546.978,"body":"So if you think about it as a cause"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2542.583,"endTime":2546.978,"body":"and effect, rather than I hope and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2546.988,"endTime":2549.368,"body":"pray that someday this will be useful."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2549.698,"endTime":2553.118,"body":"If you think about it as a true"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2549.698,"endTime":2553.118,"body":"longterm investment, I think it"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2553.118,"endTime":2555.358,"body":"will almost always pay dividends."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2556.018,"endTime":2558.198,"body":"So smart, I agree."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2558.238,"endTime":2562.058,"body":"Finally, what do you think the future"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2558.238,"endTime":2562.058,"body":"of independent retail looks like?"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2562.058,"endTime":2563.983,"body":"Awesome."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2564.168,"endTime":2564.568,"body":"good."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2565.028,"endTime":2569.118,"body":"I'm very excited about it"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2565.028,"endTime":2569.118,"body":"because I think that, there's"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2569.198,"endTime":2570.688,"body":"what we're doing with Couch.com."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2570.708,"endTime":2574.588,"body":"I don't think it's a very unique"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2570.708,"endTime":2574.588,"body":"concept in the sense that, we are"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2574.588,"endTime":2576.798,"body":"seeking to democratize the internet."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2577.548,"endTime":2582.628,"body":"And we want to bring people in"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2577.548,"endTime":2582.628,"body":"the furniture industry from brick"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2582.628,"endTime":2586.868,"body":"and mortar, who may have a mom and"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2582.628,"endTime":2586.868,"body":"pop shop or, small independent,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2586.898,"endTime":2590.418,"body":"online retailers, all in one space."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2590.698,"endTime":2597.168,"body":"AI is, for personalization, going"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2590.698,"endTime":2597.168,"body":"to change the way we search for"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2597.168,"endTime":2599.368,"body":"things and find things dramatically."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2599.958,"endTime":2604.798,"body":"And if you have a great product or service"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2599.958,"endTime":2604.798,"body":"and you were set up the right way, if"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2604.798,"endTime":2611.718,"body":"you have a great ice cream shop and AI"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2604.798,"endTime":2611.718,"body":"is going to help people find you because"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2612.108,"endTime":2614.508,"body":"you are doing something really great."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2614.638,"endTime":2619.088,"body":"And I think  AI technology is all"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2614.638,"endTime":2619.088,"body":"about getting to the root of something"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2619.518,"endTime":2622.158,"body":"and really helping people find it."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2622.378,"endTime":2625.448,"body":"Not everyone's going to go after Ben"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2622.378,"endTime":2625.448,"body":"and Jerry's because that's like the"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2625.448,"endTime":2628.408,"body":"first five Google results that you"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2625.448,"endTime":2628.408,"body":"see if you're Googling ice cream."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2628.908,"endTime":2631.588,"body":"They're going to find the local places"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2628.908,"endTime":2631.588,"body":"a little bit easier and they're going"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2631.588,"endTime":2635.998,"body":"to be platforms like Couch.com that"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2631.588,"endTime":2635.998,"body":"are going to be focused on bringing"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2636.018,"endTime":2639.138,"body":"the more independent or smaller"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2636.018,"endTime":2639.138,"body":"players back into the spotlight."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2641.713,"endTime":2642.243,"body":"I love it."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2642.263,"endTime":2643.153,"body":"I so agree."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2643.173,"endTime":2646.133,"body":"Alex, where can people learn"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2643.173,"endTime":2646.133,"body":"more and connect with you?"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2646.918,"endTime":2649.548,"body":"Well, I'm a very communicative person."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2649.648,"endTime":2651.738,"body":"My LinkedIn is very easy to find."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2651.738,"endTime":2654.828,"body":"You can search for me,"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2651.738,"endTime":2654.828,"body":"Alex Back at Couch.com."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2654.848,"endTime":2657.758,"body":"And  my email address is"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2654.848,"endTime":2657.758,"body":"quite simply alex@couch.com."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2657.778,"endTime":2661.928,"body":"If anyone has a question or are interested"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2657.778,"endTime":2661.928,"body":"by something we chatted about today."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2661.978,"endTime":2664.708,"body":"Like I said, I love being out"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2661.978,"endTime":2664.708,"body":"there and talking to people."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2664.708,"endTime":2668.868,"body":"I've found that it really, it always comes"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2664.708,"endTime":2668.868,"body":"back in spades in some way, shape or form."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2668.868,"endTime":2670.048,"body":"So please reach out at any time."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2671.076,"endTime":2671.723,"body":"Awesome."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2671.783,"endTime":2676.663,"body":"Alex, thank you so much for your time"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2671.783,"endTime":2676.663,"body":"today and sharing everything that you did."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2676.683,"endTime":2678.253,"body":"I know my listeners loved it."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2678.303,"endTime":2679.353,"body":"So thank you for being here."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2679.863,"endTime":2680.493,"body":"Thank you."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2680.513,"endTime":2681.353,"body":"I really appreciate it."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2682.053,"endTime":2683.133,"body":"Yeah, awesome."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2683.153,"endTime":2685.623,"body":"Everyone remember that I'm"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2683.153,"endTime":2685.623,"body":"rooting for your success."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2685.683,"endTime":2687.253,"body":"Have a great week ahead, bye."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2691.05,"endTime":2692.88,"body":"Thank you so much for being here."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2692.91,"endTime":2694.36,"body":"It means the world to me."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2694.68,"endTime":2698.49,"body":"Don't forget to join the Rise and Shine"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2694.68,"endTime":2698.49,"body":"newsletter, which is social media news."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2698.53,"endTime":2702.35,"body":"You need to know sent via email"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2698.53,"endTime":2702.35,"body":"every Monday morning, go to"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2702.47,"endTime":2706.34,"body":"crystalmediaco.com/rise to join."},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2706.79,"endTime":2709.41,"body":"And don't miss the newest episode"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2706.79,"endTime":2709.41,"body":"of Rooted in Retail, which"},{"speaker":"Trader Joe","startTime":2709.41,"endTime":2710.76,"body":"drops every Sunday morning."}]}