Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
In each episode, we order a product from the same brand, meticulously analyzing both the front and back end of placing an order. We then reverse engineer the storage, logistics, and packaging details to evaluate every step of its journey right to our doorsteps. And if we return a package, we'll dive into that process as well.
Welcome to Unboxing Ecommerce, the brainchild of two longtime friends and entrepreneurs, James Marks and Jennifer Yates. We met over 20 years ago while running our own brick-and-mortar businesses, and today, we're combining our expertise to dissect and understand the online shopping and shipping experience.
Join us for a comprehensive, 360-degree view of ecommerce. Whether you're an industry professional, an ecomm enthusiast, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes, we've got you covered.
Episodes drop every other Tuesday. Let's get to that box!
Unboxing Ecommerce: Operations Behind Online Brands
Netflix.shop
James and Jennifer order from netflix.shop. Jennifer is not impressed with the shopping experience, surprising James, who didn't have the same visceral reaction. They talk about localization and get a bit emotional as they embrace the moniker MLP. In the end, they are kind of delighted with the tech stack and the story it told.
Research included these sources:
- Netflix: https://about.netflix.com/en/news/introducing-netflix-shop
- Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/netflix-launch-online-store-selling-show-related-merchandise-2021-06-10/
- Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/netflix-house-stores-open-2025-180983085/
- Medium: https://davidjdeal.medium.com/how-netflix-is-cashing-in-on-squid-game-1998608f2c6c
- No Rules Rules: https://www.norulesrules.com/
Sites Mentioned:
- Shopify - hosted webstores: https://www.shopify.com/
- Klaviyo: https://www.klaviyo.com/
- One Trust - GDPR compliance: https://www.onetrust.com/
- Elevar - Conversion Tracking: https://www.getelevar.com/
- Google Translate - localization: https://translate.google.com/
- GTranslate: https://apps.shopify.com/multilingual-shop-by-gtranslate
- Translify: https://apps.shopify.com/translify
- Carro - Drop Shipping: https://www.getcarro.com/
- Printful - Print on Demand: https://www.printful.com/
- Geo Location - localization suggestion: https://apps.shopify.com/geolocation
- Route - Branded Tracking: https://route.com/
- ShipBob: https://www.shipbob.com
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Have a brand/shopping experience you want us to review? Send us a message at unboxingecomm@gmail.com
Connect with James Marks:
www.linkedin.com/in/jameslmarks
www.withtrivial.com
Connect with Jennifer Yates:
www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferayates
www.workwithroux.com
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Coverart imagined and designed by our friend, Melissa Dettloff
www.melissadettloff.com