Beauty eCommerce in the AI Era: DTC vs. Marketplaces, Loyalty & CLV — with Buddy Abrahams

Digital entrepreneurs, listen up. In this episode of The eCommerce Edge, host Phil Dubois and partner Kevin sit down with global beauty veteran Buddy Abrahams to unpack how beauty brands are adapting to today’s retail realities—and what AI is changing next.

From Dubai to the U.S., Buddy breaks down cultural buying nuances (why 100 ml fragrance flies in the Middle East), the evolving role of DTC storytelling vs. marketplace price competition, and the critical shift to AI-driven search and PDP optimization. We dig into cohort-based retention, loyalty beyond discounts (experiences, partnerships, subscriptions), and the rising convergence of beauty + wellness (digestibles, before/afters, ingredients transparency, personalization).

You’ll learn:

• How to make DTC and marketplaces complement each other (story vs. price)

• The PDP elements AI and shoppers reward: video, before/after, ingredient clarity

• Practical levers to lift LTV without racing to the bottom on price

• Personalization playbooks for 2nd/3rd purchases and loyal cohorts

• Why comparisons, proof, and wellness tie-ins win the next wave of buyers

• What smaller brands can copy from enterprise leaders—today

Guest: Buddy Abrahams — brand, content, and pricing strategist for top global beauty houses. Connect: [email protected] | BuddyAbrams.com

Keywords: eCommerce, beauty, DTC, marketplaces, AI search, PDP optimization, loyalty, LTV, subscriptions, personalization, wellness, digestibles, cohort strategy

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