AI search is changing how customers discover brands but maybe not in the way most people think...

In this live bonus episode of Digital Cheesecake, we sit down with Garret Cunningham, VP of Global CX at Columbus, to discuss the rise of LLM-driven product discovery, “zero-click” shopping journeys, and what brands need to do to stay visible as customer behaviour evolves.

From ChatGPT recommendations to AI-powered buying decisions, this episode explores how ecommerce brands can adapt without losing sight of the fundamentals.

We cover:

• Why LLM traffic numbers can be misleading
• The rise of the “zero-click economy”
• How customers are using AI for product discovery
• Why discoverability now happens before the click
• The importance of reviews, authority and brand trust
• How AI evaluates ecommerce brands
• Why metadata and structured content matter again
• The relationship between customer experience and AI visibility
• What brands should be testing right now

If you work in ecommerce, SEO, paid search, retail or digital growth, this is a conversation worth listening to.

How AI is quietly changing ecommerce discovery 👀

Find out more about Columbus Global here: https://www.columbusglobal.com/

#AI #SEO #AISearch #ConsumerBehaviour #CustomerJourney #LLM #LargeLanguageModel #Chatbots #CRM #Customerexperience

In this episode, we turn the mics on Jack and Sarah, the founders behind Blu Digital. We skip the small talk and dive straight into the operational frameworks and strategic pivots that have allowed Blu to thrive for 15 years.
If you are interested in the reality of career growth at the executive level, this conversation is a blueprint for long-term business building.
In this episode:
• Dividing the founder role: Strategy vs. Operations.
• How to stay objective when the stakes are personal.
• The evolution of the digital talent market from 2010 to 2026.
• Lessons in scaling: When to hire, when to pivot, and when to hold.
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro – The origin of Blu Digital
06:15 Splitting Founder roles for scale
13:40 Navigating high-level strategic disagreements
22:10 15 years of digital market evolution
30:50 The reality of building a "legacy" brand
38:00 Advice for long-term co-founders

Most ecommerce businesses think they’re ready to scale...

In this BONUS episode from our Live Podcast Event:

'Preparing For a New Wave of Ecommerce Growth'

Steve Webster, Former Ecommerce Director from Barbour, unpacks how growth often exposes the operational cracks already sitting underneath the business.

We discuss why so many businesses obsess over ROAS and top-line performance while ignoring the boring “unsexy stuff” that actually sustains long-term growth.

Steve also shares lessons from working with heritage retail brands like Barbour, including how operational discipline, customer service intelligence and leadership alignment can completely reshape scalability.

If you're in Ecommerce and want to scale sustainably, this one's worth your time!

#ecommerce #growth #podcast #marketingpodcast

In this BONUS audio-only episode from our Live Podcast event, Ellie sits down with industry experts to unpack how ecommerce brands should really be approaching performance marketing in 2026.
Topics include:
This episode covers:
→ AI in ecommerce
→ Performance marketing strategy
→ Creative testing
→ LLMs & AI search
→ Attribution & GA4
→ Paid social & paid search
→ CAC, LTV & ROAS
→ Content-led growth

Use these Marketing tools:Fiver: https://fiverr.partnerlinks.io/3ci0r5r179miQuillbot: https://try.quillbot.com/4hew88esymv8Trainual: https://start.trainual.com/aecgw0yogmw7

What does it actually take to build a marketplace from scratch?

In this episode, we’re joined by Harriet Noy, Founder of Hazaar, a student marketplace connecting brands with Gen Z audiences to sell excess stock through exclusive drops.

From early-stage struggles with supply to a full pivot into a B2B model, Harriet shares how staying scrappy and not perfect helped unlock growth.

We cover:
The pivot that changed everything
Scrappy marketing tactics that actually worked
How to onboard brands without heavy integrations
Building a team the right way
Why too much advice can slow you down
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro
02:10 – The idea behind Hazaar
06:45 – Early challenges & proving the model
12:30 – The pivot to B2B
18:20 – Scrappy marketing tactics
25:10 – Working with brands & onboarding
31:40 – Hiring & building a team
38:00 – Mentorship & decision-making
44:20 – Lessons & what they’d do differently

Everyone sees the household names. But how do you stay at the top?
In this episode of Digital Cheesecake, we sit down with Helen Cutmore (Bacardi, ex-M&S) to unpack the real world of global Marketing Leadership.
From retail giants to spirits powerhouses, Helen shares the strategic moves that turn a product into a cultural icon. We cover:
• The "secret sauce" global brands have that startups miss
• Why performance marketing is quietly overshadowing brand building
• What separates a good marketer from a great one in 2026
• Key focus areas for marketing leaders this year
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:15 Realising the brand marketing niche
07:40 What turns a product into a brand people love?
13:10 The "Global Brand" advantage startups ignore
21:20 Brand vs. Performance: The ultimate debate
29:45 Good vs. Great: The skill that changes everything
36:20 Advice for future CMOs
🎧 Listen on Spotify: [link]
🍏 Apple Podcasts: [link]

Most people see the brand now. But how did it actually start?

In this episode, we sit down with Molly Goddard from Desmond & Dempsey to unpack the real journey behind building a luxury loungewear brand.

From failing uni to launching a business, Molly shares what those early months actually looked like and how they turned uncertainty into momentum.

We cover:

• The reality of starting from scratch

• When the brand started to click

• Building a distinctive brand world around slow living

• The move from online to in-store

• Lessons learned the hard way

• What’s next for the brand

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:15 The origin story

08:40 Early struggles

15:10 First big breakthrough

22:30 Building the brand world

30:45 Hiring & team growth

38:20 Lessons learned

45:00 Future opportunities

#MarketingPodcast #BrandBuilding #D2C #FounderStory #Ecommerce

What does it take to go from CMO to founder?

In this episode, Andrew Higgins shares the journey behind building Parsnipp — from the initial idea through to launching in one of the most exciting areas of marketing today.

We explore how AI search is evolving, what it means for brands, and why this shift presents a huge opportunity for marketers willing to adapt early.

Learn more about Parsnipp here: https://parsnipp.com/

In this episode:

The journey from CMO to founder

The story behind Parsnipp (and its name)

What GEO is and why it matters

How AI search is changing marketing

The evolution of SEO

Lessons from building in a new space

What marketers should focus on in 2026

🎧 Listen now:

Youtube:

Apple:

Fiver: https://fiverr.partnerlinks.io/3ci0r5r179mi

Quillbot: https://try.quillbot.com/4hew88esymv8

Trainual: https://start.trainual.com/aecgw0yogmw7

#founder #cmo #marketingpodcast #marketing #AISearch #AI #GEO #SEO