The 2020 Netrush Summit Recap
The Netrush Summit is an annual event designed for premium consumer brands, hyper-focused on the shifting retail landscape. Last week, we held the Netrush Summit virtually for the first time. Over three days, industry leaders gathered in virtual sessions to discuss strategy, trends, and operational best practices.
Day 1: Strategy & Trends
2020 has put retail — and just about every other industry — on its toes. Brands and businesses have had to adapt their strategies to keep pace with rapidly changing trends. On day 1 of the Netrush Summit, we took a minute to reflect on some of those changes and how they affect brands and retail.
Russ Dieringer from the Cleveland Research Company started off day 1 by providing an in-depth look at the state and future of e-commerce. It was an informative start to a busy day. Brightloom CEO Adam Brotman, Findaway Adventures Founder Robert Craven, De Lune Founder Mimi Millard, and more — each speaker offered their own expertise and insight throughout the sessions.
Later in a session about putting purpose behind your brand, American Mycologist and Founder of Fungi Perfecti Paul Stamets led by example when he announced Fungi Perfecti’s 2019 sustainability report.
During that same session, Eamonn Store, founder and CEO of FairShare, expanded on how brands can become purposeful in their own businesses. Store’s experience — which spans business, journalism, public relations, and advertising — brought a unique lens to the conversation and added practical wisdom to a complex topic.
One piece of advice permeated most of the conversation between Store and Stamets: if you’re going to have a purpose, keep it true to your brand and follow through with it. Insincerity won’t get you anywhere.
Day 2: Capabilities for Growth
Day 2 of Netrush’s Summit was focused on retail operations and shaping infrastructure for growth. COVID-19 stressed supply chains across the globe. During presentations, supply chain and infrastructure experts talked about topics ranging from supply chain processes to brand protection.
Many of the panelists emphasized the importance of flexibility in supply chains, especially when it comes to Amazon. COVID-19 has stretched most supply chains. Rapid adaptability is the best way for brands to ensure their products remain accessible to customers.
Discussions on supply chain were followed up by a panel on brand protection. During that panel, Harvard Business School Associate Professor Ayelet Israeli, Taft Law Senior Counsel Eugene Zelek Jr., and POC Regional Sales Manager Jessie Fallentine discussed the importance of brand protection strategies and enforcement. Israeli presented brand protection research, Zelek discussed how brands can form MAP policies that work, and Fallentine discussed the application from the brand’s perspective.
Day 3: Marketing, Consumers, and Data
With more and more business happening online, most brands are swimming in data, but having data alone isn’t enough. On the last day of the Netrush Summit, presenters dove deep into the topic of data and how brands can use data to inform decision making.
Day 3 started with a live podcast recording. Brightloom executives Adam Brotman and Ben Straley recorded an episode for their podcast, The New Digital Customer.
Later, we held an “Ask Me Anything” session with Marketplace Pulse Founder Juozas Kaziukėnas. Marketplace Pulse is considered one of the leading online resources concerning online marketplaces and e-commerce.
The second half of the last day was dedicated to consumer data. We heard from Spate Co-Founder Yarden Horwitz. Spate is a machine intelligence platform focused on consumer needs, wants, and intent. During the session, Horwitz walked attendees through Spate and demonstrated how it could be used to identify trending topics.
Lastly, we wrapped up the Netrush Summit with a presentation from Wunderman Thompson Chief Data Officer Jason Carmel. Carmel encouraged brands to challenge conventional approaches to data and take a “weird data” approach.
“Weird data” is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s data that shows weird connections, like the number of cowboys that also enjoy tennis or the number of grandmothers that listen exclusively to hip hop. This type of data helps brands think outside the box and target new demographics that they may not have first considered.
Didn’t attend this year’s Netrush Summit?
Our annual event is a private event designed for Netrush partners, industry experts, and close colleagues. If you’re interested in attending next year, or if your brand is looking for help with e-commerce, reach out to learn how Netrush helps brands maximize their potential on Amazon and beyond.
