From unpaid intern to VP of Digital Strategy & Analytics, Scott Kennedy has had a wild ride in the sports and e-commerce world! In this episode of Beyond the Shelf, host Dave Feinleib sits down with Scott to unpack his journey, the meteoric rise of pickleball, and how AI and data are transforming e-commerce.

Scott shares how Franklin Sports—the official batting glove of Major League Baseball—stayed ahead of the curve by jumping into new markets, leveraging analytics, and using AI to optimize everything from product listings to demand forecasting.

Plus, we dive into the future of AI in e-commerce, the challenges of scaling data-driven decisions, and why pickleball is taking over America (seriously, try finding an empty court). If you're into sports, e-commerce, or just love a great business strategy story, this one's for you!

Tune in for insights on:
- Breaking into the sports & e-commerce industry
- The explosion of pickleball and Franklin Sports' growth strategy
- AI’s impact on e-commerce analytics, content, and forecasting
- How to make data approachable for non-technical teams
- The future of AI adoption in large organizations

Connect with Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-kennedy-ecommerce-analytics

Follow Beyond the Shelf: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/beyond-the-shelf-podcast

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Theme music: "Happy" by Mixaud - https://mixaund.bandcamp.com

Producer: Jake Musiker