Master B2B Friday 15

The Biggest B2B eCommerce Stories of 2025

Our final podcast of the year!  This week Andy & Brian talk about the biggest stories of the year:Was everyone wrong about tariffs?
Nobody getting hired, nobody getting fired?
Disruption in the Search market because of AI...Thanks to everyone for listening! We hope to see you at the Master B2B Mindshare Summit in March:https://events.masterb2b.com/events/summit

Is Google Winning or Losing the AI Race?

Andy and Brian debate whether Google's recent resurgence in the AI race can continue, and whether there are any historical parallels we can look at to make some guesses about how this all plays out.
Plus, is OpenAI the new Netscape?
Visit us at MasterB2B.com.

Our 2026 B2B eCommerce Predictions

We're sharing a recording of our recent Webcast where we revealed our B2B eCommerce predictions for 2026.  Learn what we think is going to happen with product search, Amazon Business, AI customer service and more.  Plus, we bring in special guests to tell us where they think we're right - and wrong - about the future.
Get the Predictions report here.

The final answer to Amazon 1p vs 3p

For brands selling on Amazon, channel conflict and brand control are still a huge issue. That's why we recently had an onstage debate at B2B Online in Atlanta to figure out which method of selling on Amazon - 1p or 3p - is the best option for a manufacturer. As a reminder, 1p is a wholesale model and 3p is a retail model. In this recap, we discuss: - Which option is the best approach for channel control - what you sell, what you charge, how it's presented? - Which selling method is preferable from an operational/fulfillment perspective? - Which is superior from a financial perspective? 
Also mentioned:
Master B2B Forum
Master B2B Nexus

A Report from the Amazon Business Reshape Conference

Andy and Brian spent the week in Seattle at the Amazon Business Reshape conference getting a deep dive into Amazon Business.  Today on the Friday 15, they chat with Natalia Montuori, a Director at Amazon Business, about AI buying assistants, direct delivery, business advertising and more.

The One Reason Your Company Should NOT Sell Online

It's 2025, so shouldn't every company have an eCommerce website? Not so, says Schneider Electric's Anthony Locke. Anthony says that companies have to consider what they are uniquely good at, and what their distribution partners are uniquely good at, and then decide whether they should have an eCommerce presence. And the answer for multi-billion dollar Schneider Electric was that they should not sell online and instead should focus on supporting their distribution partners.

Software Buying Tips and Tricks from an Insider

This week on the Friday 15, Andy & Brian talk with Gireesh Sahukar, a longtime software executive and eCommerce practitioner about what software buyers REALLY need to ask their potential vendors about their products.
Here's a hint - you don't just want a list of product features that they say meets your needs...and why executive churn may not be a bad sign.
 
The Paradigm B2B eCombine
Master B2B Nexus

Report from the Field: How are practitioners getting the budget they need to fund eCommerce initiatives?

This week, Andy and Brian return from hosting Master B2B executive roundtables across the country and share how practitioners are making the pitch to their CIO, CFO and CEO to fund their eCommerce initiatives.
And the answer is simple - "say it's an AI initiative."  Andy shared a story from one roundtable participant who made a pitch for a software investment to his CFO and the CFO responded, "Are you sure this isn't an AI tool? (wink wink)" knowing that every AI investment was being approved internally.
 

The Newest Tool Making It Easier to Select the Right eCommerce Platform for Your Business

This week, Master B2B's Andy Hoar is joined by Master B2B contributor Jared Blank to talk through Andy's new Paradigm B2B eCombine tool that helps practitioners select the best eCommerce platforms to investigate for their business.
Plus, why are so many businesses giving up being a public company and going private nowadays?
Check out the eCombine here.

Getting Your Company's AI Strategy "Unstuck"

Author and executive Dr. Lisa Palmer shares learnings from her new book, "Show AI - Don't Tell It: Build Buy-In with Visual Storytelling."
In her research she found that there are 3 key reasons why executives get "stuck" when considering their AI strategy, and she offers a framework for how to get "un-stuck" and unlock AI's potential within your company.
Dr Lisa's Advisory Firm
Buy Dr. Lisa's book