In episode 516 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Drew Cook, president of organic, sustainable apparel brand Pact, and Matthew Merrilees, CEO, North America at global e-commerce platform Global-e. Cook delves into the challenges of maintaining a successful international business amidst rising tariffs (3:36), while Merrilees discusses the common mistakes made amongst brands trying to branch out into the global market, providing insights on the balance of profitability and adaptability (5:30). Cook goes on to comment on the choices that have aided Pact's longevity in the global e-commerce landscape and the infrastructure that has contributed to this success (8:00).

In addition, Merrilees and Cook touch on the importance of localization within the e-commerce customer experience (10:00), as well as building resilient global commerce operations to react quickly to tariff and compliance changes (13:00). Cook provides insights on how to operate globally as a brand with leaner resources (17:00), and they both discuss the capabilities they believe will separate the brands that continue to grow globally from those that struggle (18:20). Lastly, Cook and Merrilees share advice for retailers that are hesitant to expand internationally in today's uncertain market (22:00).

Drew Cook is the president, CFO and head of operations at Pact, an apparel brand focused on wellness through simple everyday choices. In this role, Drew leads the Finance, Accounting, HR, Legal, Compliance, and Operations functions.

Matthew Merrilees is CEO, North America at Global-e, the leading platform enabling merchants to accelerate their direct-to-consumer e-commerce business worldwide. Working closely with some of the most globally recognized brands, Matthew brings deep insight into how companies can grow their online business while navigating the operational, regulatory, and profitability challenges of global e-commerce.