PlayAbly Podcast: Gamifying E-commerce for the Future
The PlayAbly Podcast
Where Ecommerce Meets Entertainment—and Retention Gets Real.
Welcome to the PlayAbly Podcast—your go-to audio destination for bold ideas at the intersection of ecommerce, psychology, and performance marketing. If you're a DTC founder, retention marketer, or CRM strategist looking to boost LTV, loyalty, and customer engagement, you're in the right place.
Each episode breaks down the latest trends in retail gamification, interactive promotions, and gamified Shopify experiences. From real-world case studies to cutting-edge strategies, we uncover how top brands are transforming everything from overstock liquidation to seasonal campaigns into powerful engagement engines.
Discover how to:
🎯 Drive conversions with ecommerce gamification
🧠 Leverage customer psychology to improve the customer journey
📈 Turn promotions into long-term retention marketing
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🏆 Build sticky customer loyalty programs and VIP programs
If you're tired of generic discounts and want to create shoppable experiences your customers actually enjoy, subscribe now and start playing with the future of commerce.
Episodes
35 episodes
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 35: Turn Dead Inventory Into Brand Gold: Smart Ways to Liquidate Overstock Without Killing Your Margins
If you’ve got shelves stacked with slow-moving SKUs, this episode is for you.On this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we dive into creative, high-ROI strategies for liquidating excess inventory without slashing prices o...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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6:26
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 34: Coupons to Connections: Gamified Promotions as the Future of Retail
Traditional discount codes are fading into the background—and customers are craving something more engaging. In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we explore why static promos like “20% off” no longer cut it, and how brands are shif...
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7:03
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 33: The $300K Mistake: How to Run Legal Ecommerce Promotions This Black Friday
This episode of the PlayAbly Podcast is your wake-up call before Black Friday. With consumer budgets tightening and competition rising, discounting isn’t your only option — and it might be your worst one.We're diving deep into why nea...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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6:57
PlayAbly Podcast: Episode 32: No More Discounts- How Discounts Destroy Your Margin and What to Do Instead
Retailers are stuck in a discount addiction that’s killing margins—and consumers are playing right along. In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we dive into the psychology behind discounting, why it’s no longer sustainable, a...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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8:24
The PlayAbly Podcast: Episode 31: The $10 Million Refund That Made $73 Million: How Risk-Based Promos Are Rewriting Retail
What if the biggest “loss” in your business history was actually your most profitable win?In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we unpack how brands like Mattress Mack’s Gallery Furniture used psychological triggers, sports fan...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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6:29
PlayAbly Podcast: Episode 30: Taylor Swift and Mamdami - Sparkle Codes & Civic Quests
In this episode, we connect two unlikely worlds: Taylor Swift’s glitter-bomb Easter eggs for The Life of a Showgirl and Zohran Mamdani’s New York City scavenger hunt. Both show how playful participation is reshaping engagement in 2025....
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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5:56
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 29: Press Play on Engagement: Gamification, AI, and the Future of Ecommerce Growth
Hey everyone! Welcome back to The PlayAbly Podcast, the show where ecommerce growth meets game design. Today, our host Kajal is joined by PlayAbly’s CEO and Founder, John, for a deep dive into the future of brand engagement — and why n...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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6:54
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 28: Gamify the Aisle: In-Store Retail Gamification That Works
After a brief hiatus, the PlayAbly Podcast is back — and Angelo’s hitting the road. From LA to New York, he’s meeting with brands IRL to show how
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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12:11
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 27: How Gamification Boosts Conversions: Behind the Psychology
Is your ecommerce store blending into the Shopify sea of sameness? In this episode of The PlayAbly Podcast, we’re joined by PlayAbly CEO and founder John Cheng to uncover the science, psychology, a...
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21:50
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 26: Why Brand Ads Flop in Games—and What Actually Works
DOWNLOAD THE PLAYABLY SHOPIFY APPBrand ads in games? They’ve been called the Holy Grail of digital marketing… and yet, most have failed spectacularly. In this episode of the Playably Podcas...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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22:37
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 25: From App Stores to Shopify: What DTC Brands Can Learn from the Mobile Gaming Boom
In this episode of the Playably Podcast, co-founder Angelo joins to break down a major parallel between two digital revolutions: the mobile gaming explosion of the 2010s and today’s Shopify store boom. What does Flappy Bir...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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14:36
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 24: Revolutionizing Rainy Days: How Brella Shoppe is Disrupting the Umbrella Market
Turning Rainy Days into Runway Moments: How Brella Shoppe is Redefining an Untapped Market with Shauna CowitIn this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with Shauna Cowit, founder of
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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25:39
PlayAbly Episode 23: Better Customer Journeys and Better SEO with Easy On-site Engagement
Gamification isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the future of e-commerce engagement and SEO strategy. In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we explore how incorporating interactive experiences can transform your online store into a high-performing p...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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14:21
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 22: How Tariffs Are Reshaping E-Commerce: Strategies for Staying Competitive
Tariffs are back in the spotlight, and e-commerce brands are feeling the impact. In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we break down what tariffs really mean, who pays the price, and how they’re shaking up global trade. Join our host and Pla...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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24:44
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 21: Gamifying Growth – How Playfield Created a Viral DTC Brand with Engagement & Community
In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with Ivana, founder of Playfield, the pet accessories brand behind the viral
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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20:45
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 20: Designing Play: Why Every Brand Needs a Game Designer (and What Makes a Game Great!)
What does a game designer really do, and why does it matter for your brand? In this episode, we sit down with Seema, our Head of UX and Game Design, to uncover the psychology behind great game design and its impact on customer engagement. <...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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21:55
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 19: NRF 2025 Recap: How Playably Stood Out and What’s Next for Retail
In this episode, we dive into the excitement of the NRF conference, where over 6,200 global brands gathered in New York City to explore the future of retail. Join us as the Playably team reflects on their experience, including:Insig...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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21:48
PlayAbly Podcast 18: Breaking the Bounce- More Sales Through Engagement
Bounce rates have been a persistent pain point for websites, but why do so many visitors leave before engaging? In this episode of the Playably Podcast, our CEO John Cheng dives deep into the psychology behind...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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25:39
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 17: From Monopoly to McDonald’s: What Board Games Teach Us About Customer Engagement
What do Monopoly, UNO, and McDonald's Monopoly all have in common? They’ve mastered the art of engagement by tapping into human behavior, nostalgia, and fun.In this episode, we’re joined by Seema, PlayAbly’s Head of UX and Design, to exp...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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24:16
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 16: Stop Putting Spinners on Your Website
Ever felt personally victimized by a discount spinner? You know, those flashy wheels of disappointment promising 50% off but always landing on a measly 10%? Seema, our UX and game design guru, is here to spill the tea on why spinners are ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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15:30
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 15: Gamification, Taylor Swift, and the Eras of E-Commerce: How to Build a Brand Fans Love
What do Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and ecommerce gamification have in common? Turns out, everything. In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we dive into how ...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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16:07
PlayAbly Podcast 14 - Gamification Everywhere: Lessons from Temu and Beyond
In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with CEO and founder John Cheng to deconstruct how gamification has become a cornerstone for global success stories like Temu. From interactive spinners and...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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16:49
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 13: Crafting the Perfect Interactive Experience with PlayAbly’s Head of UX
In this episode of the PlayAbly podcast, we’re joined by Seema, PlayAbly’s Head of UX and Game Design. Seema works directly with customers to help them shape the games and interactive experiences that boost ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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18:05
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 12: How AI and Personalization are Transforming E-commerce: Insights from Playably CEO John Cheng
In this episode of the PlayAbly podcast, I’m joined by Playably CEO and founder John Chaeg to dive into the transformative power of AI and personalization in the e-commerce industry. John shares insights fro...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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14:20
PlayAbly Podcast Episode 11: Black Friday Strategy Part 3
In the latest episode of the Playably Podcast, Kajal and Gabi dive into a key Black Friday Cyber Monday strategy: maximizing engagement with playable ads. With BFCM season fast approaching, brands are vying for...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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12:37