
Unpacking the Digital Shelf
Let’s talk through the future of brand manufacturing in the digital age. Welcome to Unpacking the Digital Shelf. For more commerce content for all brands CPG & beyond, visit us at www.digitalshelfinstitute.org
Latest episodes

May 4, 2020 • 10min
Roundtable: The Questionable Morality of Amazon's Private-Label Business
The Wall Street Journal released an article this week with claims against Amazon for using Marketplace data to inform on their private-label business. Is what they're doing wrong? Rob Gonzalez gives his "rantifesto" on these accusations against the Amazon private-label business.

Apr 27, 2020 • 30min
Roundtable: Supply Chains and Regulators Getting Agile
Two of the most inflexible things in society are going rogue to respond to this moment. What will last? Rob and Peter talk supply chains and regulations, and it's way more interesting than you'd think.

Apr 23, 2020 • 30min
Interview: How Emerging Brands Survive - and Thrive - in a Downturn, with Karen Howland
During a downturn, there are factors that work in favor of an emerging brand driving sales and engagement with their consumers, and there are headwinds. Karen Howard, Managing Director of Circleup, an investment platform for early-stage consumer brands, shares data and insights on how emerging brands should think about surviving, and thriving, in the current environment.

Apr 20, 2020 • 26min
Roundtable: Why It Matters that Amazon Cut Affiliate Marketing
Amazon cut affiliate marketing rates this week. So what? Turns out, it is a wakeup call for brands about Amazon's market power. Rob and Peter unpack it all.

Apr 13, 2020 • 22min
Roundtable: Sure, They're Buying Online, But Do They LIKE It?
Big shifts happening in ecommerce. But they'll only last if the consumer likes them. Rob and Peter run through the shifts behind the stats.

Apr 6, 2020 • 33min
Roundtable: What Manufacturer Execs are Telling Us
Molly Schonthal, who leads the DSI's Executive Forum, joins Peter to share the hot takes from her recent conversations with brand manufacturer leaders.

Mar 30, 2020 • 26min
Roundtable: Manufacturers Lead the Way
It's been a week of watching manufacturers get agile to respond to these times. What of these innovations will last? Peter and Rob share the inspirations and implications of these responses.

Mar 23, 2020 • 29min
Roundtable: Tectonic Shifts or Snap Back?
There are some dramatic shifts happening right now in commerce. Are they likely permanent, or will they snap back? Peter and Rob highlight the major shifts and how digital pros can respond.

Mar 19, 2020 • 35min
Interview: Retailer Ad Platforms: Why, How, and Where to Invest with Russ Dieringer from Cleveland Research
Seems like every major retailer is building an ad platform. Where should you invest? Is it trade or media spend, or both? How do you organize your teams to test and optimize in each channel? Russ Dieringer, Executive Director of the Ecommerce Council at Cleveland Research, shares new research on how to evaluate and execute a strategy in the world of rapidly evolving retailer ad platforms.

Mar 16, 2020 • 22min
Roundtable: Keep Calm and Digitally Carry On
There is a necessity and an opportunity to lean into digital experiences in these times. Peter and Molly talk it through.