The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast

Hosted ByTaylor Holiday & Richard Gaffin

2020 transformed the world of ecommerce forever. For the modern DTC brand, the rewards have never been greater. But the waters have also never been choppier, and the way forward has never been more uncertain. So how do you navigate this dangerous new reality? No matter how you do it, you’d better not do it alone. That’s where the Ecommerce Playbook Podcast comes in — join Common Thread Collective’s Taylor Holiday & Richard Gaffin as they bring you guiding insights from across CTC’s portfolio of growing DTC businesses. Whether you need a clear view on the macro issues affecting the world.

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The Ecommerce Playbook | Creative Strategy Is Dead (Here’s What Actually Works in 2026)

January 20, 2026 The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast 00:33:35
The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast
The Ecommerce Playbook Podcast
The Ecommerce Playbook | Creative Strategy Is Dead (Here’s What Actually Works in 2026)
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In this episode, Taylor explains why the traditional creative loop—analyzing past ads, chasing CTRs, writing briefs, and hoping for better results—isn’t just inefficient, it’s actively hurting growth.

Instead, we break down what actually works in 2026: treating creative like a supply chain, not a brainstorming exercise.

You’ll learn:

  • Why creative strategy is no longer about ideas or opinions

  • How to tie creative output directly to financial forecasts and media spend

  • What a “creative demand plan” looks like in practice

  • Why volume, velocity, and systems beat “great ads” every time

  • How the role of creative strategist is collapsing into growth and profit engineering

This conversation is for founders, CMOs, and operators running Meta ads at scale who are tired of guessing, reacting late, and burning money on creative that doesn’t move the business.

If you’re still asking “What should this ad say?” instead of “What does the system need to produce this month?”—this episode will change how you think about creative forever.

Show Notes: